Huddersfield line

Huddersfield line
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
Operator(s)	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
Route map
	Harrogate, Airedale
	and Wharfedale lines
	Calder Valley (to Wakefield),
	Hallam and Pontefract lines
	Cross Country Route
	to Wakefield and ECML
	opening
	c. 2026
	3369 yd
	3081 m
	Staincliffe and Batley Carr
	Batley Carr
	Calder Valley line
	to Wakefield
	1890–2025
	new c. 2028
	Calder Valley line
	to Brighouse
	1871–1930
	1982–
	Longwood and
	Milnsbridge
	West Yorkshire Metro
	5675 yd
	5189 m
	TfGM
	Stockport–Stalybridge line
	to Stockport
	WMCL, Hope Valley and
	Styal 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.