Ravensthorpe station will close from Sunday 14 December and remain shut until the summer of 2028 while a new station is built roughly 200m to the west as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
The replacement station, which TRU officials say will be step‑free and include a footbridge with lifts, a new forecourt and improved drop‑off facilities, is being built alongside a longer island platform designed to accommodate longer trains with more seats. The move westwards is required to make way for the upgrade of the trackbed through the existing site.
The works form part of TRU’s wider programme in the Ravensthorpe area, where engineers are widening a section of railway to four tracks and installing overhead electrification and new signalling. The project includes construction of the new Baker Viaduct and other major civil engineering works described by TRU as some of the largest in the country. Progress so far has included placement of concrete beams for a new Calder Road bridge, installation of piers for the new viaduct and utility diversions around Thornhill Road.
Project planners say the four‑track layout will allow faster trains to overtake slower stopping services, which they expect will cut journey times; electrification and digital signalling are also intended to increase capacity and reliability across the route. TRU is a multibillion‑pound programme covering about 112km of railway, with multiple separate work sites being managed along the corridor.
The closure will affect commuters who currently use Ravensthorpe station; rail replacement buses will run between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury stations for the duration of the closure to maintain connections while construction takes place.
Campaigners and local councillors have in the past raised concerns about the impacts of long station closures on communities and on bus and road congestion. TRU has emphasised the long‑term benefits of the works, including increased train capacity, faster services and improved stations, but the immediate effects of a nearly three‑year closure are likely to be felt by residents and businesses reliant on the current station.
Wider scheme
The TRU, funded at around £10.7bn, aims to electrify the entire route, double tracks at key locations, implement digital signalling and upgrade all 23 stations on the line. As of August, a quarter of the route is already electrified and that electric services run between some sections, such as Manchester–Stalybridge and York–Church Fenton. The programme also includes measures to boost freight capacity by widening tunnels and adding freight paths, intended to shift lorry journeys onto rail.
Work on TRU has created a substantial local workforce, TRU figures show, with thousands employed across the programme. The scheme is being delivered in phases and involves dozens of active work sites along the corridor.
TRU entering ‘pivotal phase’
Passengers who normally use Ravensthorpe are advised to check the latest timetables and rail replacement bus information ahead of the closure on 14 December, and to allow extra time for journeys. Further details about the new station’s layout, temporary accessibility arrangements and the timetable for the Baker Viaduct and four‑tracking works are expected to be released by the project team as the works progress.
Network Rail TRU sponsor Andrew Campbell said: “The closure of Ravensthorpe station marks the beginning of a pivotal phase for TRU and perhaps one of the most significant projects within the programme – the scale of work being undertaken in Ravensthorpe serves as a great indicator of the upgrades that will be delivered here.
“The four-tracking over a brand-new viaduct and through a modernised station means customers will benefit from faster, more reliable journeys across the Pennines with greater capacity.
“We’d like to thank the community for their understanding as we deliver these major upgrades.”
Northern TRU programme delivery lead Andrew Allwright said: “The work to upgrade Ravensthorpe railway station will support the efforts that the Transpennine Route Upgrade is doing to deliver a fully accessible railway that is fit for the 21st century.
“When Ravensthorpe station closes, from Sunday 14 December until the May timetable change in 2026, Northern will be running a rail replacement service between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury, connecting to services for a number of destinations, to ensure our customers can continue to travel with as little impact to their journeys as possible.
“We recognise that the work taking place will lead to extended journey times for customers travelling from Ravensthorpe and thank them for their continued patience.”
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