Major Engineering Works on TransPennine Express Network Scheduled for May 2026

In May 2026, significant engineering works will take place across the TransPennine Express network, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). This upgrade is aimed at improving the reliability, capacity, accessibility, and future electric operations of the railway. Passengers are being encouraged to prepare for changes to their travel plans during this period.

Key Route Impacts

Several routes will be affected by these works, and here’s a breakdown of the most important changes:

Huddersfield Area

Between Deighton and Mirfield, the railway line will be closed from Saturday 2 May to Monday 25 May. Here’s what to expect:

• On weekends (except Sunday 24 May) and Monday 25 May, trains will not run between Marsden and Mirfield. Instead, buses will replace trains between Huddersfield and several locations including Brighouse, Lockwood, Wakefield Kirkgate, and Manchester.
• During weekdays, train services through Huddersfield will be reduced, and there will be no direct trains heading east towards Leeds or the Calder Valley. Buses will operate between Huddersfield and Brighouse or Wakefield Kirkgate for connections to trains.
• On Sunday 24 May, Brighouse and Mirfield stations will be closed until 04:30 the following Monday morning, resulting in further service reductions through Huddersfield.
• The car park at Brighouse station will be closed from 30 April to 26 May to facilitate bus services.

Due to these changes, many passengers will need to make at least one extra change during their journey, as some stations will become key interchange points.

York to Newcastle/Redcar Central

On 2–4 May and 23–25 May, the railway will be closed between York and Northallerton. Here’s how this will affect services:

• Trains to and from Newcastle will begin and end at Northallerton.
• Passengers heading to Thirsk and stations towards Redcar Central should change at Northallerton for buses.
• For all other destinations, passengers will need to change at Darlington for buses to York.
• Northern will provide train services between Darlington and Saltburn, stopping at various stations along the way.

Rail replacement buses will run between York and Redcar Central, stopping at several locations, including Thirsk and Middlesbrough.

Warrington Central to Liverpool

On Sunday 3 and Monday 4 May, buses will replace trains between Manchester Victoria/Warrington Central and Liverpool Lime Street. The details are as follows:

• Buses will run directly between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street.
• Buses between Warrington Central and Liverpool Lime Street will operate via Liverpool South Parkway until 12pm on Monday 4 May.
• For those travelling to or from Irlam or Urmston, services will still be available with Northern trains.

Doncaster to Cleethorpes

From Saturday 16 May to Friday 22 May, engineering works will affect train services between Doncaster, Scunthorpe, and Cleethorpes:

• On 16 and 17 May, TransPennine Express will only operate between Liverpool Lime Street and Doncaster. Buses will replace trains between Doncaster and Cleethorpes.
• From 18 to 22 May, the service will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Scunthorpe, with buses replacing trains between Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes.

Manchester Piccadilly Area

On Sunday 17 May, engineering improvement work will require some changes in the Manchester Piccadilly area until 12:30:

• Some TransPennine Express services will be amended, and rail replacement buses will be used on certain routes, including:
• Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road
• Doncaster to Stockport
• Redcar Central to Manchester Victoria
• Buses will also operate between Manchester Victoria and Manchester Airport, calling at Manchester Piccadilly.

Carlisle to Glasgow Central

On the weekends of 9/10, 16/17, and 31 May, there will be no TransPennine Express services between Carlisle and Glasgow Central. Passengers can use Avanti West Coast or ScotRail services instead.

Dewsbury Corridor Closure

From Saturday 30 May to Sunday 31 May, the railway will be closed along the Dewsbury Corridor. This will affect services between Bradley Junction and Leeds:

• Rail services will terminate at Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, with rail replacement buses operating between these stations.
• Some customers may still be able to use trains via the Calder Valley or Hope Valley.

Passengers are strongly encouraged to check the latest information regarding their journeys on the TransPennine Express website or through National Rail Enquiries before travelling. These engineering works are vital for enhancing the railway network, ensuring safer and more efficient travel in the future.