2025 A year of electrifying milestones on TRU  another very big year for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, especially as this summer saw the programme hit the important milestone of 25% of the route being electrified.

August was a defining moment for the programme that’s transforming train travel between York and Manchester, when the first electric passenger train ran between Colton Junction and Church Fenton outside York, signalling a quarter of the 70-mile route as electrified.

It’s a build on earlier progress in 2024, when electric services began operating between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. Together, these sections lay the foundation for full-route electrification by early 2030, with 40% expected to be complete by summer 2027. Once finished, the upgrade will increase capacity on today by over a third and cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes annually.

Summer’s achievement was a tangible step towards a faster, greener, and more reliable railway for the North of England, and the programme continues to be delivered on budget and on time.

“The biggest challenge is the unprecedented amount of work we’re delivering in a live rail environment,” said TRU Managing Director James Richardson.

“Throughout the work, we’re making sure that from a passenger perspective we keep those customers moving, we keep them safe and we try and minimise the disruption. There is some complex engineering, but the complexity comes from the live rail environment and that way of working.”

With Great British Railways (GBR) now established and work underway to bring track and train closer together, James thinks a lot can be learnt from TRU and how it is operating. The programme is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Network Rail through dedicated alliances and project teams. There are several parties involved, including train and freight operators, a number of combined authorities across the region, as well as the railway supply chain.

“There’s a huge amount of opportunity within the rail industry if we get ourselves together in the way we have with the enterprise, and the lesson we’re trying to transfer forward is how it can look if you get it right, when we move to GBR.

“The enterprise means we’ve got all of those skills from the very early stages of development, through to being operational and we’ve also got the capability to manage the passenger focus and the infrastructure delivery on a day-to-day basis, as well as maintaining the railway.”

TRU is a catalyst for economic growth. By improving connectivity between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, the programme unlocks opportunities for businesses, investors, and communities. Journeys will speed up Manchester to York in as little as 63 minutes and Manchester to Leeds in around 42 minutes.

And the Investment is already paying dividends. Over £3.3 billion has been spent to date, with hundreds of millions flowing through local businesses and SMEs. The programme employs around 5,000 skilled people, including over 400 apprentices, and has delivered more than £2.3 billion pounds in social value. Beyond the workforce, TRU is stimulating regeneration: Huddersfield alone has seen a £670 million development pipeline since the scope of the upgrade was increased in 2020, boosting confidence in housing, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

Skills development is another cornerstone. Through initiatives like the Huddersfield-based TRU safety training centre – TRUST and Kirklees Virtual Skills Hub, TRU has trained over 10,000 people in safety and workplace operations and engaged more than 64,000 children in STEM activities. These efforts ensure the benefits of TRU extend beyond infrastructure, leaving a legacy of skills and opportunity for future generations.

And 2026 is a year of more major milestones with civil engineering works continuing across the route, including track renewals, tunnel refurbishments, and station upgrades. Accessibility improvements remain a priority with a new station opening at Mirfield in the new year and improved stations being unveiled at Batley and Dewsbury by the summer.

TRU is about creating a stronger, more connected North—one where businesses thrive, communities prosper, and opportunities are accessible to all. The August electrification milestone is proof that TRU is delivering on its commitments. As 2026 approaches, the focus will be on delivering the programme to plan, deepening the economic impact and ensuring that this once-in-a-generation investment leaves a lasting legacy.

Find out more about the Transpennine Route Upgrade project.

Visit the dedicated website for the latest updates and further in-depth analysis:  theTRUpgrade.co.uk

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