General information | |||||
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Location | Huddersfield, Kirklees England | ||||
Coordinates | 53°38′53″N1°47′06″W / 53.648°N 1.785°W | ||||
Grid reference | SE143168 | ||||
Managed by | TransPennine Express | ||||
Transit authority | West Yorkshire (Metro) | ||||
Platforms | 6 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | HUD | ||||
Fare zone | 5 | ||||
Classification | DfT category B | ||||
History | |||||
Original company | London and North Western Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | London and North Western Railway/Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway joint | ||||
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
3 August 1847 | Station opened [1] | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 4.769 million | ||||
2020/21 | 1.026 million | ||||
2021/22 | 3.042 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.378 million | ||||
2022/23 | 3.021 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.456 million | ||||
2023/24 | 3.022 million | ||||
Interchange | 0.603 million | ||||
Listed Building –Grade I | |||||
Feature | Railway Station | ||||
Designated | 3 March 1952 | ||||
Reference no. | 1277385 [2] | ||||
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Huddersfield railway station serves the town of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire,England.
The station is managed by TransPennine Express,which provides trains between Manchester and Liverpool in the North West and Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the North East and also to York,Scarborough and Hull via Leeds. It is also served by local Northern trains on the Huddersfield,Penistone and Caldervale lines,which between them provide service to Leeds,Wakefield Westgate,Manchester Victoria,Sheffield,Brighouse,Halifax and Bradford Interchange.
Huddersfield station is the second busiest station in West Yorkshire,with Leeds being the first,and is the fifth busiest station in Yorkshire &the Humber as a whole.
Designed by the architect James Pigott Pritchett and built by the firm of Joseph Kaye in 1846–50 [3] [4] using the neo-classical style,the station is well known in architectural circles for its classical-style facade,with a portico of the Corinthian order,consisting of six columns in width and two in depth,which dominates St George's Square. It faces out towards Lion Buildings. It is a Grade I listed building. [2] In the 1880s,the station was extended with the installation of an island platform with an overall roof. The roof partially collapsed on 10 August 1885,killing four people. [5]
The station frontage was described by John Betjeman as "the most splendid in England" and by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as "one of the best early railway stations in England" and "the only important Victorian railway station [in the West Riding]". [6] Similarly,Simon Jenkins reported it to be one of the best 100 stations in Britain. [7]
Two pubs are within the station frontage,to each side of the main entrance:The Head Of Steam and The King's Head (previously known as The Station Tavern). [8] Both facilities are accessible from Platform 1. At the building's entrance,the booking office is to the left and to the right are the train timetables and a newsagent. Platforms 4 to 8 are located via a lift or subway,accessed from Platform 1. The public conveniences are located through this subway at the top of the steps to Platforms 4–8. The platforms are all covered by a large canopy. To the rear of the station are some carriage sidings.
The station is staffed 24 hours a day,with the booking office open from 05:45 to 20:00 Mondays to Saturdays and 07:45 to 20:00 on Sundays. There are also four self-service ticket machines available in the ticket hall for use when the booking office is closed or for collecting pre-paid tickets. Automated train announcements,customer help points and digital display screens provide train running information on all platforms. In addition to the aforementioned pubs,the station has a waiting room and buffet on platform 4 and a coffee kiosk on platform 1. [9]
The station fronts Saint George's Square,which was refurbished in 2009. The square has been made a pedestrian zone. No car parking is available in front of the station entrance,but it is nearby on Brook Street.
The station is situated a short distance from Huddersfield bus station,so interchange facilities are possible but limited. The Huddersfield FreeCityBus connects the railway station with the bus station,as well as the University of Huddersfield and other areas of the town centre.
There are six platforms:
In 2010,Network Rail and First TransPennine Express completed a series of improvements to the station in order to provide better access for passengers. This consisted of two new lifts,and a new staircase to the subway on Platform 1. The new staircase replaced the existing staircase inside the booking hall. As well as this each platform received new information screens. [10]
In early 2011,further improvement works were carried out to the concourse and waiting area. This phase of improvements was funded by the Railway Heritage Trust,Metro,Kirklees council and the National Station's Improvement Programme. The main purpose of this was to reduce bottlenecks at peak times as well as general crowding. The redundant stable block on Platform 1 was also turned into a staff training centre and toilets. [11]
Automatic ticket barriers were installed at the station in May 2013. [12]
Work is underway on Network Rail's Transpennine Route Upgrade project, [13] [14] which will see electrification of the Huddersfield Line,allowing many of the services through the station to switch to newer,faster electric rolling stock. As part of this project the signal box on platform 4 which was decommissioned previously will be removed,its control area already passed to the York Rail Operating Centre as a part of the Huddersfield Re-signalling project. [15] To match the quadrupling of the line north of Huddersfield,the project will in effect split the existing island platform,extending the existing bay platforms 5 and 6 to form two new through platforms covered by a new roof,and add a new footbridge at the Leeds end. The process will also include relocating the 1880s island platform tea room,and rotating it through 180 degrees. [16]
During Monday to Friday daytimes,TransPennine Express operate services to Newcastle,Hull,Scarborough (limited service) and Saltburn,all of which call at Leeds. Two of these are expresses (either non-stop or calling at Dewsbury only) and the other serves most local stops to Leeds. Since the start of the December 2023 timetable,TPE also run four trains a day to/from York via Wakefield Kirkgate and Castleford,plus a fifth that starts/finishes at Wakefield Kirkgate.
Westbound there are two trains per hour to Manchester Piccadilly (stopper service),one to Manchester Airport (via Manchester Victoria) and one to Liverpool Lime Street via Newton-le-Willows). [17]
Northern operates an hourly stopping services to Sheffield, [18] and to Bradford Interchange via Halifax. The service to Wakefield Kirkgate and Castleford was suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic started in spring 2020;a limited service (four per day) resumed at the December 2022 timetable change,but this no longer operates (it has been replaced by the above service to York via Castleford run by TPE).
Currently Huddersfield is served by Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
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TransPennine Express | ||||
Terminus | Northern Trains | |||
Northern Trains | ||||
Northern Trains | ||||
Disused railways | ||||
L&YR | Terminus |
Kirklees South Lines |
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London North Eastern Railway planned to operate services from London King's Cross via Leeds, beginning in May 2020. But as of October 2024, this has not taken place. [19]
In keeping with the on-site Head of Steam railway pub, several steam trains still pass through Huddersfield station, including the Cotton Mill Express and the Scarborough Flyer. [20]
On the disused side of Platform 2, an old carriage is bolted to the ground, alongside a grounded body of a Class 144 Pacer. Set in its window is a plaque commemorating 100 years of Steamtrain Hoorn Medemblik, a Dutch heritage railway.
The first station cat, Felix, joined the staff as a nine-week-old kitten in 2011. [21] Since then she has patrolled the station to keep it free from rodents, and even has her own cat-flap to bypass the ticket barriers. [22] In 2016 Felix was promoted to Senior Pest Controller [23] and local artist Rob Martin painted a portrait of her which now hangs in the station. [24] In 2019 Transpennine Express named a Class 68 locomotive (68031) after Felix. [25]
The second station cat, Bolt, joined the staff in September 2018 as an eight-week-old kitten. [26] [27]
Felix died on 3 December 2023 after the discovery of tumours which led to medical complications. [28]
The two cats have featured in calendars and two books, raising more than £240,000 for charity. [28]
Leeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on New Station Street to the south of City Square, at the foot of Park Row, behind the landmark Queens Hotel. It is one of 20 stations managed by Network Rail. As of December 2023, it was the busiest station in West Yorkshire, as well as in Yorkshire & the Humber, and the entirety of Northern England. It is the second busiest station in the UK outside of London, after Birmingham New Street.
Darton railway station is a railway station in a large village of Darton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. Train services are provided by Northern.
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, some services continue to Manchester Airport and others to Liverpool.
Meadowhall Interchange is a transport interchange located in north-east Sheffield, consisting of a combined heavy rail station, tram stop and bus and coach station. The second-busiest heavy rail station in the city in terms of passenger numbers, Meadowhall Interchange provides connections between National Rail services, the Sheffield Supertram light rail network, intercity coach services and the city bus network.
Wakefield Kirkgate railway station is a railway station in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Unlike the nearby Wakefield Westgate railway station, Kirkgate is unstaffed. The station is managed by Northern but also served by Grand Central and TransPennine Express. It is on the Hallam, Calder Valley, Pontefract and Huddersfield lines. It has a limited number of services to London King's Cross.
Doncaster railway station is on the East Coast Main Line serving the city of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It is 155 miles 77 chains (251 km) down the line from London King's Cross and is situated between Retford and York on the main line. It is managed by London North Eastern Railway. It is the second busiest station in South Yorkshire, and the fourth busiest station in Yorkshire & the Humber.
Normanton railway station serves the town of Normanton in West Yorkshire, England. It lies 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Leeds railway station on the Hallam Line, which is operated by Northern.
Castleford railway station serves the town of Castleford in West Yorkshire. It lies on the Hallam and Pontefract lines, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Leeds.
Brighouse railway station serves the town of Brighouse in West Yorkshire, England. The station lies on the Calder Valley line running west from Leeds. Opened in 1840, and closed in 1970, it reopened in 2000 and is served by Northern Trains and Grand Central services.
Mirfield railway station serves the town of Mirfield in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the Huddersfield Line and is managed by Northern and also receives services by Grand Central and also TransPennine Express. The station is 4 miles (6 km) north east from Huddersfield.
Deighton railway station serves the Deighton area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.
Ravensthorpe railway station serves the Ravensthorpe suburb of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the Huddersfield line between Leeds and Manchester, 8 miles (13 km) north east of Huddersfield.
Dewsbury railway station serves the town of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, England. Situated 9.25 miles (15 km) south west of Leeds on the main line to Huddersfield and Manchester, the station was opened by the London and North Western Railway in 1848.
Batley railway station serves the market town of Batley in West Yorkshire, England. Situated 8 miles (13 km) south-west of Leeds on the main line to Huddersfield and Manchester, the station was opened by the London and North Western Railway in 1848.
Marsden railway station serves the village of Marsden near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Huddersfield Line, operated by Northern and is about 7 miles (11 km) west of Huddersfield station. It was opened in 1849 by the London & North Western Railway and is the last station before the West Yorkshire boundary with Greater Manchester. The station is operated by Northern Trains, but only Transpennine Express trains call here.
Greenfield railway station in the village of Greenfield, Greater Manchester, England, is on the Huddersfield Line 12 miles (20 km) northeast of Manchester Victoria. It is the final station in Greater Manchester before the West Yorkshire boundary. It is operated by Northern Trains although only TransPennine Express trains call at this station.
Mossley railway station in Mossley, Greater Manchester, England, is on the Huddersfield Line 9.9 miles (16 km) north-east of Manchester Victoria and is managed by Northern, which do not provide any services to or from this station. Only TransPennine Express trains stop here.
Stalybridge railway station serves Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the Huddersfield Line, 7+1⁄2 miles (12.1 km) east of Manchester Piccadilly and 8+1⁄4 miles (13.3 km) east of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by TransPennine Express.
Church Fenton railway station serves the village of Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated where the Cross Country Route from Leeds to York meets the Dearne Valley line from Sheffield to York, just under 10.75 miles (17 km) from York.
TransPennine Trains Limited, trading as TransPennine Express (TPE), is a British train operating company that has operated passenger services in the TransPennine Express franchise area since May 2023. It runs regional and inter-city rail services between the major cities and towns of Northern England and Scotland. The company, which is government-owned, was established following poor performance by the previous commercially owned operator, also called TransPennine Express. It has carried over the rolling stock, passenger services, and branding.