On Monday 11 December 2023 we celebrated a key milestone for the The Transpennine Route Upgrade, as partners came together in Castleford with representatives from Wakefield Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for the official opening of the station’s new fully-accessible second platform and the launch a brand new rail service linking the town with York and Manchester.
The opening of the second platform, served by an accessible footbridge with stairs and lifts linking it to the recently enhanced station building and facilities, marks the completion of the first major station improvement scheme to be delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade and represents a major investment at the station, which is managed by Northern. The ribbon was cut by Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council and Councillor for Castleford Central & Glasshoughton.
The improvements to the station, tracks and signalling system, which began in May 2022, were delivered by the TRU East Alliance and have increased capacity. A new track crossover was also installed at Cutsyke to the west of the station to allow trains to use either platform.
This will boost the reliability of existing services and enable the use of the Castleford line as a crucial diversionary route to divert trains and keep passengers moving by train during our major upgrades on the main line between York and Leeds.
It also allows more trains to run through Castleford, including a brand new service, operated by TransPennine Express with four return journeys a day, which will benefit the town by providing fast, exciting and valuable new travel opportunities, including a regular direct link to York for the first time since 1970.
Castleford station is also receiving £720,000 of station improvements as part of Transpennine Route Upgrade’s ‘First & Last Mile’ programme. The funding will improve access to the station, provide public artwork and the installation of CCTV.
Take a look at the new footbridge being installed in October 2022:
