Geograph - photograph every grid square

Thorpe Park is a large infill development between the old Ring Road and the newer East Leeds Orbital Route, on the eastern edge of the Leeds conurbation. It is roughly divided into five zones: the largest part to the south is commercial, the northern edge either side of the Leeds-York rail line is housing, between them a retail and leisure park ('The Springs'), east of the ELOR will be a logistics park, and to the west former agricultural land will become a park and sports area.

Construction started in the early 21st century and is still continuing as of 2026, with more housing, light industry and parkland still planned. When complete, it will comprise 3 million square feet of business space, 350,000 sq ft of retail and leisure amenities, 750 homes and apartments, and 60 hectares of public green spaces.

There is an ambition, in conjunction with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, eventually to build a new park-and-ride rail station to attract traffic into the city from the M1, as well as provide a more convenient commuter service for residents of the area. Figures from the official website, Link

The Transpennine railway line runs between York and Manchester via Leeds, Huddersfield and Stalybridge. The line is seeing work to increase the capacity of the line, including quad-tracking the line between Dewsbury and Huddersfield, along with electrification along the length of the line. For more information on the project see: Link
There are also two excellent YouTube channels documenting the TRU works every few days. Sarah Bell documents mostly at street level: Link and On Track With Tim is predominantly drone footage: Link



Key works (east to west):

York to Leeds
Electrification and track upgrades between Colton Junction (with the East Coast Mainline) and Leeds. Includes rebuilding of platforms 3 & 4 at Church Fenton to allow for improved track alignment, raising/rebuilding of many bridges and removal of several level crossings along the route. The route includes Neville Hill depot to the east of Leeds, which sees major works, along with the relocation of electric multiple units to a new Shipley Traincare Depot.

Leeds to Dewsbury
Electrification of the line and rebuilding of Morley station slightly further from the tunnel mouth.

Dewsbury to Huddersfield
Quad tracking of the line with electrification. The construction of the Baker Viaduct over the River Calder and Calder and Hebble Navigation between Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe, with a grade separated junction with the lines from Wakefield at Thornhill Junction. Relocation of Ravensthorpe Station and major station rebuilds for Mirfield and Deighton. The installation of the fast lines takes an improved alignment, especially around Heaton Lodge Junction.

Huddersfield Station
Major works to the station, with a revised track layout and reconfigured and lengthened platforms. Repairs to the roof covering the station.

Huddersfield to Diggle
Electrification of the lines, including through Standedge Tunnel. Rebuilding of Marsden station and works to Slaithwaite station.

Diggle to Stalybridge
Electrification of the lines with relocation of Mossley station and upgrades to Greenfield station.

Stalybridge to Manchester Victoria
Reconfiguration for the route to Manchester Victoria becoming the main route on the line with Manchester Piccadilly becoming the secondary route. Both routes fully electrified.


As well as the core Transpennine route, additional upgrade works were undertaken on some key diversionary routes to enable services to run during the works.

York to Leeds/Wakefield Kirkgate via Castleford
Reinstatement of a second platform at Castleford which allows for diversionary trains to operate along both the York-Castleford-Leeds and York-Castleford-Wakefield Kirkgate routes along with some permanent services along the second route which join the main Transpennine route at Thornhill Junction.

Mirfield to Manchester Victoria via Brighouse and Todmorden
Upgrading of Brighouse Station and the Calder Valley line to allow for increased diversionary services from the Transpennine route between Mirfield and Manchester Victoria.