Passengers are being urged to plan ahead as 26 days of major upgrades in Stalybridge get underway from this weekend.

The biggest piece of work so far in the Transpennine Route Upgrade starts on Saturday.

Services on the Manchester to Leeds line from then until April 5 will be diverted via the Calder Valley route, with supporting rail replacement buses on hand to keep passengers on the move. 

Passengers travelling across the Pennines should allow extra time and plan ahead using the National Rail Journey Planner or their train operator’s website. 

Engineers will work around the clock over the 26 days to deliver a package of upgrades to the railway line in Stalybridge. 

It is the largest phase of work delivered by the programme to date and includes remodelling track, installing more than 2km of new track and 23 new signals, upgrading 13 crossovers and fitting new overhead line equipment, which will improve journeys along this key route.  

The work forms part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade to better connect towns and cities through more frequent, faster trains, running on a cleaner, greener and more reliable railway. 

Hannah Lomas, Industry Programme Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “These upgrades at Stalybridge will mark a significant milestone for the entire programme, bringing us one step closer to faster, greener and more reliable journeys across the North of England. 

“We have worked closely with train operators on the route, Northern and TransPennine Express, to make sure that there is a robust plan in place to keep passengers on the move. There will be rail diversions and a mix of express and stopping rail replacement buses between Manchester and Huddersfield, so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before travelling.” 

Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express, said: “These upgrade works are a vital step towards delivering faster, more reliable and sustainable services between Manchester and York.  

“Whilst the engineering work takes place around Stalybridge there will be a number of changes to TransPennine Express services across our network - and we’d advise our customers to check carefully for the latest advice before they travel on our website www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times. 

“Updates will also be available on our social media channels. Our teams from across the industry will be on hand at stations to assist customers with their journeys.” 

Rob Warnes, Strategic Development Director for Northern, said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their patience whilst Stalybridge station is closed for this work. 

“These upgrades will pave the way for Northern to run faster, greener electric trains to Stalybridge in the future. We’re working hard to keep our customers moving throughout the duration of the closure, and we’d like to remind customers to check before they travel.” 

Additional preparation work will also take place on weekends after the 26 days, including on April 15-16 and 22-23 and 29-30 and then again on May 20-21. 

Passengers are advised to check before they travel for the latest updates. 

Following completion of this phase of work, trains will be able to move through Stalybridge station faster and more reliably. 

The work is just one component of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will electrify the whole route between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds providing 70 miles of fully electric, digital railway.