£500,000 makeover for train station

HUDDERSFIELD station has been upgraded following a £500,000 investment.

Customers will benefit from three new glass waiting rooms, improved car park lighting, a cycle rack with spaces for 54 bikes and a first class lounge following the work through intercity train operator TransPennine Express (TPE) and Network Rail’s National Stations Improvements Programme (NSIP).

The first class lounge, located on platform one, is the first facility of its kind at Huddersfield for at least 60 years and a first for TPE. The lounge will be open to customers seven days a week, offering sofas, work stations, free wifi, food throughout the day, a self-serve hot drinks machine and a television. The lounge also has its own toilet facilities.

The three heated glass waiting rooms can be found on platforms one, two and between platforms four and eight.

Kathryn O’Brien, TPE’s customer experience director, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to secure funding through the NSIP to improve the journeys of all of our customers who travel through Huddersfield. Over the next four years we are going to be completely transforming our customer experience, and through station upgrades, better on-board catering and of course new trains we will deliver an outstanding intercity rail service that will take the North further.”

Coun Liam Robinson, chairman of the Rail North board, said: “It is good to see investment in station-wide improvements at Huddersfield. Passengers will benefit from three new glass waiting rooms, space for 54 cycles in new racks and a First Class lounge. These will all help TPE in their mission to become the intercity operator for the North of England.”

The station’s car park has extra lighting, while work is still being completed on a cycling rack on platform one with spaces for 54 bikes.