Grand Final game plan: Tackle your travel arrangements with confidence

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is reminding passengers travelling to the Super League Grand Final this weekend to plan their journey ahead of time, as crucial track upgrades take place.
Date 12.10.23

Throughout October, engineers working on the multi-billion-pound project will excavate ballast (railway stone) to create new track beds, replace approximately 650 meters of railway tracks and install new drainage systems.

To complete these major upgrades, while also ensuring fans get to the big game, Transpennine Route Upgrade partners Northern and Transpennine Express are implementing a number of service changes. This means that some trains will be diverted and others replaced with buses.

Gareth Hope, Sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade said:

“We understand how important key sporting events like this are to fans, and have made every effort to minimise impact where possible.

The work being completed is a crucial component of our broader upgrades, not only allowing for faster and greener train travel, but also improving service reliability in the future. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while the work takes place. I encourage anyone travelling to the Super League Grand Final to plan their journey ahead of time via www.nationalrailenquiries.co.uk or their train operator website, as some journey’s may take longer than usual”.

Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express said:

“The improvement work taking place throughout October is essential to the modernisation of our railways, helping deliver a faster, more reliable service between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.”

“Due to this work, there will be service alternations in place with fewer of our services able to run between Leeds and Manchester and rail replacement buses in operation between Huddersfield and Manchester on the day of the Super League Grand Final. We’d like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while this essential work takes place. Customers are advised to check the Transpennine Express website for the latest service changes before they travel: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/planned-engineering-work; updates will also be available on our social media channels.”

 

 

Changes to Train Services:

  • Liverpool Lime Street – Hull: Services will only run between Huddersfield and Hull. Customers travelling from Hull for Manchester/Liverpool should change at Leeds.
  • Liverpool Lime Street – Newcastle: Services will divert on the Calder Valley route between Dewsbury and Manchester Victoria and will not call at Huddersfield. These services will call additionally at Lea Green.
  • Manchester Airport – Saltburn: This service will only run between Manchester Victoria and Saltburn. Services will also divert on the Calder Valley route between Dewsbury and Manchester Victoria and will not call at Huddersfield.
  • Manchester Piccadilly – York – Scarborough: A shuttle service will only run between York – Scarborough. Customers will need to change at York for onward connections.
  • Huddersfield – Manchester Piccadilly (local stopping service): This service will not run.
  • Leeds – Huddersfield (local stopping service): This service will run as normal.

Rail replacement buses:

  • Huddersfield – Manchester Piccadilly (semi-fast): Buses will run every 15 minutes directly between Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly. Approx journey time: 60 mins.
  • Huddersfield – Manchester Piccadilly (all stops): An hourly bus will run between Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly calling at all stations. Additional peak time buses will also run to match the normal rail service. Approx journey time: 95 mins.
  • Huddersfield – Manchester Airport: An hourly bus service will run between these two stations, calling at Stockport. Approx journey time: 80 mins.