Huddersfield Station Upgrade

It was the former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman who described Huddersfield railway station as “the most splendid in England” and ever since its opening in 1847, Huddersfield railway station has been at the heart of the town’s community. English Heritage named the station as a Grade I listed building in their top five of great stations back in 2014 and the station regularly features as one of the most beautiful stations in the country.

In 2022, Huddersfield station celebrates not only its 175th birthday but a new future, as the Transpennine Route Upgrade will significantly improve its facilities, giving the people it serves a station truly fit for the 21st century.

Our plans include:

  • Two new platforms and the extension of existing platforms to improve station capacity
  • Improved accessibility – including new footbridge and lifts, and step-free access from the front entrance
  • Sympathetic restoration of the station roof
  • Additional toilet facilities
  • Improved customer information system
  • Track upgrades to support more trains
  • The tearoom will be relocated on its current platform. The tearoom will be repaired and repainted
  • Artist's impression of the upgraded Huddersfield station
  • Artist's impression of the upgraded Huddersfield station
  • Artist's impression of the upgraded Huddersfield station
  • Artist's impression of the upgraded Huddersfield station
  • Artist's impression of the upgraded Huddersfield station

Our work in more detail..

Work has started on site at Huddersfield, and over the next couple of years, you may notice some changes at the station as we complete these major upgrades.

Scaffolding installation

  • We have built scaffold towers at the end of the platforms to facilitate the restoration of the station roof canopy.
  • An encapsulated, raised working platform has been installed, where our team will be working throughout the day and night to complete the roof canopy repairs.

Roof canopy restoration

  • Huddersfield station roof canopy is one of the few remaining examples of a ‘Euston roof’ left on the rail network.
  • The restoration of the roof canopy involves:
  • Grit blasting
  • Steelwork strengthening
  • Painting
  • Installing new roof coverings
  • Reinstating the original glass lantern feature.

Grit blasting work

  • Grit blasting will be undertaken to smooth and clean the roof canopy structure, by propelling an abrasive material against the surface under high pressure.
  • This can be a noisy activity, so we have installed noise monitoring equipment and acoustic barriers to reduce noise as much as possible. We will undertake the work at night to minimise disruption to passengers.
  • We are also encapsulating the roof canopy to prevent any debris or dust from being released into the air during the work.

Relocation of the tearoom

  • To facilitate work at the station, we are dismantling and relocating the Grade II listed tearoom to a new location on its current platform.
  • This will be repaired and repainted, in keeping with the original building, to provide an improved space for passengers while they wait for services.

Reconstruction of the platforms

  • Huddersfield station will have 4 through platforms and 2 bay platforms to increase operational flexibility.
  • The platforms will be extended to 200m in length (excluding the Penistone line platform) and moved slightly eastwards towards Leeds. As a result, a new footbridge with lifts will be installed to supplement the existing subway.​
  • The Penistone line platform will be brought closer to the booking hall to allow for longer trains and reduce walking times for passengers.

Huddersfield station closures & changes to train services

  • To facilitate work, we will sometimes be required to temporarily close Huddersfield station, meaning that trains will not stop at Huddersfield station during this time.
  • Rail replacement buses and diversionary train routes will be used to keep passengers moving while the station is closed.
  • Planned closure dates: the station will be closed and trains will not through Huddersfield between Friday 30th August 2025 and Monday 29th September 2025. ­­­­­
  • We will let passengers know well in advance about any other closures of the station.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade will go well beyond Huddersfield station. Extra tracks, better stations and a fully electrified route across the Pennines will ultimately bring more frequent, faster journeys between York and Manchester, running on a greener, more reliable railway.