Huddersfield line

Huddersfield line
First TransPennine Express Class 185 Desiro passing through Mossley in 2014
Overview
Locale	West Yorkshire North West England Yorkshire and the Humber
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Technical
Track gauge	Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

Huddersfield line
Cross Country Route to York / North TransPennine to Hull Leeds Hallam Line / Pontefract line Leeds Central Harrogate line to Harrogate / Airedale line / Wharfedale line Copley Goods Calder Valley line Cross Country Route/ East Coast Main Line Farnley and Wortley Leeds New Line Cottingley Churwell Morley Morley Tunnel Batley Staincliffe & Batley Carr Dewsbury to Bradford Exchange Ravensthorpe to Wakefield to Bradford Mirfield Leeds New Line Calder Valley line Bradley Kirkburton Branch Deighton Newtown Goods Yard Huddersfield Penistone Line Longwood and Milnsbridge Golcar Slaithwaite Marsden Limit of West Yorkshire Metro area Standedge Tunnels Limit of Transport for Greater Manchester area Diggle Micklehurst Line Saddleworth Delph Donkey Moorgate Greenfield Delph Donkey to Oldham Mossley Scout Tunnel Micklehurst Line Stalybridge Glossop line / Hope Valley line Ashton-under-Lyne Guide Bridge to Oldham to Stockport Fairfield Fallowfield Loop line Droylsden Gorton Clayton Bridge Hope Valley line Park Ashburys Calder Valley line Miles Platting Ardwick West Coast Main Line / Styal line Manchester Victoria Manchester Piccadilly Ordsall Chord Liverpool–Manchester lines Liverpool Lime Street 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:

Huddersfield–Manchester

• here is Springwood Tunnel and Springwood Junction for the trains on the Penistone line
• Longwood and Milnsbridge
• Golcar
• Slaithwaite
• Marsden
• Standedge Tunnel: three parallel tunnels, two single-line, one double, 5340 yd (4806 m) in length
• Diggle
• Diggle Junction with line to Stalybridge via Friezland
• Saddleworth
• Moorgate
• Greenfield
• Mossley
• Stalybridge
• Ashton-under-Lyne
• Manchester Victoria

Westbound coal train between Ravensthorpe and Mirfield in 1953

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Huddersfield line.