Mammoth Rail Refurb Reaches End Of Line

A multi million pounds scheme that has seen platforms extended at seven West Yorkshire stations on the Huddersfield to Penistone line, has completed.

Detailed design by HBPW’s in-house team of rail engineers was carried out between July and December last year with construction commencing in the runup to Christmas.

HBPW Partner, Paul Monaghan, said: “The stations involved included Huddersfield, Lockwood, Honley, Berry Brow, Brockholes, Shepley and Denby Dale, all located at the West Yorkshire end of this important route.

“Northern Rail and TransPennine Express are the two principal train operators on this Network Rail line and work was needed to accommodate their new rolling stock which is much longer than on older trains.

“Until recently passengers using the route may have noticed on-board announcements advising those disembarking at certain stations to ensure they were in carriages to the front of the train, simply because those at the rear did not reach the old, much shorter platforms, widely deemed to be of insufficient operational length. Obviously, this latest work means that inconvenience is now a thing of the past.”

HBPW engineered all the work for the platform extensions with other key deliverables including:

• Installing new station platform lighting and tactile paving for the visually impaired
• Replacing new and existing back-of-platform fencing

“Access to all stations was challenging with the possible exception of Shepley and, in all instances, work was carried out at night to ensure that daytime closures were not needed.

“Huddersfield station, which was the first to complete, was a perfect example of a multi-disciplinary project involving a range of different consultants.

“Platform two was extended to 55m using both ends of the existing platform, minimising the need for extended signal work, however, there were not only civil engineering requirements but also an amount of signalling and track design as well as mechanical and engineering works.

“Further down the line Berry Brow was also the only station to use Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) as the basis of its new platform.

“Taken in isolation each station may seem like a relatively small job in the great scheme of things, said Paul, “however, when looked at collectively, this was a project requiring multi-agency input, numerous consultants and tight timescales. Definitely a job well done by all concerned.”