Work starts on £60m viaduct to speed up rail trips

Work to build one of the largest new railway viaducts in the country has got under way in West Yorkshire.

The £60m scheme will see a 1,150ft (350m) viaduct built over the River Calder at Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, on the line between Huddersfield and Leeds.

Due to be completed in summer 2027, the new structure will have space for four tracks, two for fast trains and two for slower trains, allowing more services to operate.

The project is part of the £11bn Transpennine Route Upgrade, which aims to cut journey times between Leeds and Manchester to 45 minutes.

Adam Bunce, senior construction manager from BAM Infrastructure, explained that the viaduct was "the biggest single structure being built on the Transpennine Route Upgrade".

"It really is impressive and when it's opened it's going to help speed up journeys and also make services on the line more reliable," he said.

"We're going to be providing cleaner, greener trains, increased capacity - and this unlocks all that benefit."

The viaduct will replace two cast-iron bridges that were built by Joseph Butler & Co in Leeds in 1847.

While the Victorian bridges have been deemed no longer suitable for use, they are Grade II listed and will remain in place when the new viaduct opens.

The new nine-span structure is being manufactured from Corten steel, a high-strength material that develops a rusty brown colour and does not need continuous painting.

A 12,000-tonne crane is being used to swing each individual span into position on eight supporting pillars.

Close to the viaduct, Ravensthorpe Station has been closed by Network Rail as part of the upgrade work.

The station is being rebuilt at a nearby location so more trains can stop there and will include a footbridge with lifts, a new forecourt and improved drop-off facilities. It will reopen in March 2028.

Network Rail's Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is due to be completed in the early 2030s, will see the line between York and Manchester fully electrified.

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