Major Milestone Reached as Final Steel Beam Completes New TransPennine Viaduct

Construction of the new Baker Viaduct has moved a step closer to completion, marking another significant advance in the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade as work continues to transform rail capacity across West Yorkshire.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has passed another major construction milestone after engineers lifted the final steel beam into place on the new Baker Viaduct, a key structure that will reshape rail operations between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester.

Installed at the end of July, the final girder completes the primary steelwork for the new viaduct, which forms part of a redesigned rail alignment near Dewsbury. Once operational, the structure will replace the existing crossing over the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation, while creating a more efficient junction for services travelling between Leeds, Wakefield and Huddersfield.

The achievement represents one of the most visible milestones on a programme designed to increase capacity, improve reliability and support faster rail services across the North.

Reconfiguring a Critical Rail Junction

The Baker Viaduct is central to a complete remodelling of the railway through Dewsbury.

Rather than simply replacing ageing infrastructure, the scheme creates a new alignment that will streamline train movements and eliminate operational constraints that have affected the route for decades.

Once the new infrastructure is commissioned, the existing railway alignment will be taken out of operational use, although Network Rail will retain responsibility for maintaining the listed historic bridges that remain on the former route.

Four-Track Railway Continues to Take Shape

Progress is also accelerating elsewhere on the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

New Fast lines between Deighton and the northern end of Huddersfield Viaduct have now been installed, representing another key step towards creating a four-track railway capable of separating stopping and express services.

Although the infrastructure is physically in place, the new tracks have not yet been connected into the operational network.

When complete:

• Express passenger services will operate on dedicated Fast lines.

• Local stopping services will use separate Slow lines.

• Freight services will benefit from improved operational flexibility.

The segregation is intended to improve reliability while increasing overall route capacity.

Station Transformations Continue

Alongside track and civil engineering works, major station upgrades remain under way across the route.

At Huddersfield, new staircases serving the future Platforms 5 and 6 have now been installed as work continues to reconfigure one of the North's busiest stations.

When complete, Huddersfield will feature:

• Four through platforms

• Two additional local service platforms

• Improved operational flexibility for regional services

The new platforms are currently expected to enter service during early 2027.

Meanwhile, Deighton Station is also scheduled for reconstruction.

Although Network Rail continues to target completion during 2027, it says the final opening date will depend not only on construction progress but also on the wider timetable planning required once the upgraded railway enters service.

Transforming Rail Across the Pennines

The Baker Viaduct milestone reflects the scale of engineering currently taking place across the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

The programme is delivering extensive track renewals, electrification, new bridges, station upgrades and major junction remodelling as part of one of Britain's largest railway enhancement schemes.

By increasing capacity and separating fast and stopping services, the project aims to deliver quicker, more reliable journeys while creating additional space for freight traffic and supporting future passenger growth across northern England.

With the viaduct's steel superstructure now complete, attention will turn to deck construction, track installation and signalling works, bringing another major section of the upgraded railway closer to entering service.