The £11bn Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has marked a new milestone with electrification and upgrades along the rail line between Church Fenton and York now complete.

Faster trains will cut journey times between York and Leeds by 10 minutes and Manchester and Leeds from 50 minutes to 42 minutes, with up to six fast services an hour – making it easier for people to get to work, do business and travel across the region.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander became one of the first people to enjoy the new electrified line as she travelling from Leeds to York during a visit to the region.

This upgrade is set to create more than 5,000 jobs, support the development of 6,500 new homes and unlock commercial space across the North.

Heidi Alexander said: “Today is a moment of celebration for a project that will transform train travel for millions of passengers across the North. More reliable, efficient trains are now running on 25% of the full TransPennine route.

“We are delivering on our Plan for Change by upgrading rail links across the North – slashing journey times between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

“Electrification between Church Fenton and York was delivered on time and on budget, this government is investing in ambitious projects and seeing them through, delivering change in areas that desperately need it.

“This upgrade is about opportunity, not just by expanding and improving people’s travel options, but by creating more than 5,000 new jobs and supporting 6,500 new homes, kickstarting economic growth in the areas that need it most.”

This upgrade will enable electric TransPennine Express (TPE) trains to run from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and Church Fenton to York – electrifying both ends of the route.

James Richardson, managing director for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “Electric trains running between York and Church Fenton is a significant step forward in the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.

“We have reached a key milestone, as 25% of the route is now electrified, enabling greener, faster, and more reliable journeys between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester in the future. The improvements are already bringing economic and social benefits along the route and wider communities across the North.”

The completion of this work follows another major milestone last year, when electric passenger services started to run between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

By summer 2027, 40% of the Transpennine route will be electrified, progressing towards full-route electrification by early 2030. Once complete, the programme is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year and enable more rail freight, removing over 1,000 lorries from the road daily.