Network Rail Completes Mirfield Upgrade: Step-Free Access Opens

Network Rail unveils Mirfield station upgrade with new lifts and extended platforms, improving accessibility and capacity for the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

January 30, 2026 3:39 pm

🛑 Key Takeaways:

Network Rail has completed major upgrades at Mirfield station, officially opened on January 30.
Key new assets include a footbridge with lifts for step-free access and extended platforms for longer trains.
The project is a foundational step for the installation of two new fast lines, enabling express services to overtake local trains and increasing overall network capacity.

MIRFIELD, UK – Network Rail officially opened the upgraded Mirfield railway station on January 30, marking a key milestone in the broader Transpennine Route Upgrade. The project, whose budget has not been publicly disclosed, adds step-free access via a new footbridge and lifts for the first time in the station’s history and extends platforms to accommodate longer trains.

Category	Specification / Detail
Project	Mirfield Station Upgrade
Operator / Owner	Network Rail
Key Stakeholders	Northern, Kirklees Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)
Key Infrastructure	New footbridge with lifts, extended platforms, new waiting shelters, information screens, improved lighting.
Official Opening	30 January
Next Phase	Four-tracking installation; Batley & Dewsbury station upgrades (Completion expected later this year).

Operational & Technical Details

The core technical enhancement at Mirfield is the platform extension and remodelling. This directly facilitates the use of longer trainsets, increasing passenger seat capacity on services stopping at the station. More strategically, the current works prepare the alignment for the installation of two new fast lines as part of a four-tracking project. This will physically separate faster, direct services from stopping ones. The new configuration will allow express trains to overtake slower services, significantly reducing journey times and improving timetable reliability across the route.

Market Impact Analysis

The Mirfield station upgrade is a critical component of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, a program designed to enhance rail connectivity between Manchester, Leeds, and York. By enabling greater capacity and service reliability, the project directly supports regional economic growth strategies for the North of England. The improvements increase the line’s resilience and make rail a more competitive alternative to road transport for both passengers and freight. This incremental, station-by-station progress demonstrates tangible delivery on the long-term investment plan, strengthening the business case for future phases of the route modernization.

FAQ: Quick Facts

What are the main benefits of the Mirfield upgrade?

The primary benefits are step-free access for improved accessibility, longer platforms to support trains with more seats, and foundational work for a future four-track railway. This will allow for faster, more reliable services.

Is the project at Mirfield complete?

The station upgrade phase, including the new footbridge, lifts, and platforms, is complete and was opened on January 30. However, work continues on the wider program to install four tracks through the area.