Ravensthorpe Station To Close for Major TRU Upgrade Until 2028
Ravensthorpe station is set to close from Sunday 14 December until summer 2028 as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), with work underway to build a modernised station 200 metres west of its current location.
The new station will feature a footbridge with lifts for step-free access, a redesigned forecourt with drop-off facilities, and a longer island platform capable of accommodating longer trains, offering more seats for passengers. Relocating the station allows for a new four-track railway to run through the area, enabling faster direct services to overtake stopping trains and reducing journey times between Manchester, Leeds, and York.
Significant infrastructure work is already taking place around the Ravensthorpe triangle, one of the North’s largest civil engineering sites. This includes the installation of concrete beams for the new Calder Road bridge and the piers for the Baker Viaduct, both essential for major track realignment. Overhead line equipment will also be installed, paving the way for electric trains and a greener rail network in the future.
To maintain passenger services during the closure, rail replacement buses will operate between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury stations. Commuters are being urged to plan ahead by checking nationalrail.co.uk to minimise disruption.
Andrew Campbell, TRU sponsor, said:
“The upcoming closure of Ravensthorpe station marks the beginning of an important phase for the programme, as work intensifies until summer 2028. The station area, known as Ravensthorpe triangle, has already seen a great deal of progress, and is currently one of the biggest civil-engineering sites in the North. Work already underway includes the installation of concrete beams to form the new Calder Road bridge and the installation of piers for the new Baker Viaduct – both of which are helping enable major track realignment work for more reliable, smoother journeys across the Pennines. We’d like to thank the local community for their understanding as we deliver a modernised Ravensthorpe station which will support better rail travel across the region.”
Andrew Allwright, TRU Programme Delivery Lead for Northern, added:
“The work to upgrade Ravensthorpe railway station, as well as the railway in the surrounding vicinity of the station, is key to the overall modernisation of the railway across the Pennines. The work done as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) will not only deliver benefits locally to Ravensthorpe, with a modern station that has longer platforms and upgraded facilities, but will also help deliver a greener railway, as well as faster and more reliable services for our customers. When Ravensthorpe station closes, from Sunday 14 December until the May timetable change in 2026, Northern will be running a rail replacement service from Ravensthorpe to Dewsbury, enabling connections to rail services, ensuring our customers can continue to travel with as little impact to their journeys as possible. We’d like to thank customers who use Ravensthorpe station for their patience while this vital work takes place. We strongly advise customers to plan ahead and check the National Rail Enquiries website when planning their journey.”
Image: Network Rail