Huddersfield line

See also: TransPennine Route Upgrade

Huddersfield line
TransPennine Express Class 185 passing Guide Bridge in 2025
Overview
Owner	Network Rail
Locale	West Yorkshire North West England
Termini	Manchester Piccadilly Manchester Victoria Huddersfield
Service
Operators	TransPennine Express Northern Trains DB Cargo UK GB Railfreight Freightliner Direct Rail Services
Technical
Line length	49 miles (79 km)
Track gauge	Standard gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map (Click to expand) to York and Hull Leeds Central │ Leeds Harrogate, Airedale and Wharfedale lines Holbeck Calder Valley (to Wakefield), Hallam and Pontefract lines Calder Valley line to Bradford Cross Country Route to Wakefield and ECML Farnley and Wortley Farnley Branch Leeds New Line Cottingley White Rose ( opening c. 2026 ) Churwell Morley Morley Tunnel 3369 yd 3081 m Batley BW&LR to Wakefield Staincliffe and Batley Carr Batley Carr BW&LR to Wakefield Dewsbury to Bradford Exchange Calder Valley line to Wakefield Ravensthorpe ( 1890–2025 new c. 2028 ) Spen Valley Line to Bradford Mirfield Leeds New Line Calder Valley line to Brighouse Bradley Kirkburton branch Deighton ( 1871–1930 1982– ) Huddersfield Viaduct Huddersfield Penistone Line to Sheffield Longwood and Milnsbridge Golcar Slaithwaite Marsden West Yorkshire Metro   Standedge Tunnels 5675 yd 5189 m   TfGM Diggle Micklehurst Line Saddleworth Delph Donkey to Delph Moorgate Greenfield Delph Donkey to Oldham Mossley Scout Tunnel Micklehurst Line Stalybridge Glossop and Hope Valley lines Stalybridge Junction Rly Ashton-under-Lyne Guide Bridge OA&GB Rly to Oldham Stockport–Stalybridge line to Stockport Droylsden Clayton Bridge Park Glossop and Hope Valley lines WMCL, Hope Valley and Styal lines Calder Valley line to Rochdale Miles Platting Manchester Piccadilly Manchester Victoria Manchester Exchange Manchester–Preston line Liverpool–Manchester lines

The Huddersfield line is the main railway line between the English cities of Leeds and Manchester, via Huddersfield. It is one of the busiest MetroTrain lines. The route travels south-south-west from Leeds through Dewsbury. After a short westward stretch through Mirfield, where it runs on the ex-L&YR section, it continues south-west through Huddersfield, using the Colne Valley to its headwaters. The long Standedge Tunnel, just after Marsden, crosses under the watershed; the majority of the run down to Manchester is in the Tame Valley. From Manchester, services either terminate, or continue to Manchester Airport or Liverpool.

In November 2011, the Government announced that this route would be electrified, to be completed by 2022; however, there have been multiple delays. It is currently subject to the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is an element of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands that was announced in November 2021.