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Huddersfield line: Difference between revisions

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* '''[[Ravensthorpe railway station|Ravensthorpe]]''' was named ''Ravensthorpe and [[Thornhill, West Yorkshire|Thornhill]]''
* '''[[Ravensthorpe railway station|Ravensthorpe]]''' was named ''Ravensthorpe and [[Thornhill, West Yorkshire|Thornhill]]''
**here is ''Dewsbury Junction'' with the L&YR. Trains from Wakefield (Westgate and Kirkgate railway stations) join the Huddersfield line here, giving connections from the [[Pontefract Line|Pontefract]], [[Hallam Line|Hallam]] and [[Wakefield line]]s.
**here is ''Dewsbury Junction'' with the L&YR. Trains from Wakefield (Westgate and Kirkgate railway stations) join the Huddersfield line here, giving connections from the [[Pontefract Line|Pontefract]], [[Hallam Line|Hallam]] and [[Wakefield line]]s.
* '''[[Mirfield railway station|Mirfield]]''' L&YR junctions here to [[Low Moor railway station|Low Moor]] (closed) and [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]] (the [[Caldervale Line]]): the service from the Huddersfield Line operates to '''[[Brighouse railway station|Brighouse]]'''
* '''[[Mirfield railway station|Mirfield]]''' L&YR junctions here to [[Low Moor railway station|Low Moor]] and [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]] (the [[Caldervale Line]]): the service from the Huddersfield Line operates to '''[[Brighouse railway station|Brighouse]]'''
* ''Heaton Lodge/Heckmondwike Junctions return the route to the ex-LNWR line
* ''Heaton Lodge/Heckmondwike Junctions return the route to the ex-LNWR line
* [[Bradley, West Yorkshire|Bradley]]
* [[Bradley, West Yorkshire|Bradley]]

Revision as of 14:19, 22 May 2017

Huddersfield line
Overview
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleWest Yorkshire
North West England
Yorkshire and the Humber
Technical
Track gaugeStandard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Huddersfield line
Leeds West Yorkshire Metro
Leeds Central
Farnley and Wortley
Cottingley
White Rose (Proposed opening)
Churwell
Morley
Batley
Staincliffe &
Batley Carr
Dewsbury
Ravensthorpe
Mirfield West Yorkshire Metro
Bradley
Deighton
Newtown Goods Yard
Huddersfield West Yorkshire Metro
Longwood and
Milnsbridge
Golcar
Slaithwaite
Marsden
Limit of West
Yorkshire Metro area
Diggle
Saddleworth
Moorgate
Greenfield
Mossley
Scout Tunnel
Stalybridge
Ashton-under-Lyne Manchester Metrolink
Guide Bridge
Fairfield
Droylsden
Gorton
Clayton Bridge
Park
Ashburys
Miles Platting
Ardwick
Manchester Victoria Manchester Metrolink
Manchester Piccadilly Manchester Metrolink
Liverpool Lime Street Merseyrail

Not served by
Huddersfield Line services

The Huddersfield line is one of the busiest rail lines on the West Yorkshire MetroTrain network in Northern England. Local services are operated by Northern with longer distance services operated by TransPennine Express. The line connects Leeds and Huddersfield with Manchester (Victoria & Piccadilly), Manchester Airport and Liverpool.

The route travels SSW from Leeds through Dewsbury. After a short westward stretch through Mirfield (where it runs on the ex-L&YR section), it continues SW through Huddersfield, using the River Colne valley to its headwaters. The long Standedge Tunnel just after Marsden crosses under the watershed and the majority of the run down to Manchester is in the Tame valley. After Manchester, the line reaches the Liverpool and Manchester Railway line over Chat Moss to Liverpool.

The Government announced in November 2011 that this route would be electrified,[1] and electrification is currently scheduled to be completed by 2022.[2]

History

At the time of the 1923 Grouping most of the route followed by the line was over London and North Western Railway (LNWR) metals, the exception being a short stretch around Mirfield which was the property of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). The first section of the line, between Huddersfield and Stalybridge, was opened by the Manchester, Stockport and Leeds Railway on 1 August 1849. The line became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway after 1923.

Route details

Metro (West Yorkshire) pre-paid tickets and concessionary fares are available between Leeds and Marsden. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) fares are available for the Greenfield-Manchester section. Several of the intermediate stations listed were closed in the 1960s (as a result of the Beeching Axe, including many of those between Huddersfield & Manchester). All stations that are still open are in bold:

Leeds–Huddersfield

Huddersfield–Manchester

Westbound coal train between Ravensthorpe and Mirfield in 1953

Manchester–Liverpool

Ale trail

Owing to a large number of easily accessed and nationally acclaimed pubs along the route (including pubs on the station platforms at Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge), an "ale trail" along the route has become popular. Of particular interest are:

  • West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms (on the platform at Dewsbury Station, 2006 runner up CAMRA National Pub of the Year)
  • The Kings Head, formerly known as The Station Tavern, in the east wing of Huddersfield station
  • The Head of Steam in the west wing of Huddersfield Station
  • The Commercial, The Shoulder of Mutton and The Swan in Slaithwaite
  • Riverhead, Marsden (with the Riverhead Brewery in the basement, in the town a little down from the station and tunnels)
  • Station Buffet at Stalybridge (original Victorian Station Buffet with marble counter, on the platform at Stalybridge station)

The Trail featured on the BBC Oz and James Drink to Britain programme and consequently became very popular for drinkers in Manchester and Leeds. This has prompted some concerns over anti-social behaviour in the villages along the Trail.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Government's green light for A6 link to Manchester Airport and electrification of train line to Leeds".
  2. ^ "Midland Main Line electrification unpaused – but delayed by years".
  3. ^ BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-22927355