Work has started on Castleford rail station's second platform to boost capacity and reliability for passengers.

The new platform, which is being fully rebuilt, will be served by an accessible footbridge with stairs and lifts to link it to the recently improved station building and facilities.

The second platform, which hasn't welcomed regular train services since the 1970s, will improve the reliability of existing services and increase capacity, allowing more trains to run through Castleford.

For decades passengers have used a single platform to travel in both directions from the town. This often causes delays for trains trying to enter the station.


The new footbridge will be lifted into place over two weekends in October, with work to complete the track improvements and signalling upgrade taking place over three days between Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October, during which time services will be diverted and will not call at Castleford.

Upgrades will also take place on Sunday 23 October when fewer trains will run through the station. Buses will replace some rail services through the town and passengers are encouraged to check both their outward and return journeys on the National Rail Enquiries website before they travel.

A new crossover has already been installed at Cutsyke to the west of the station to allow trains to use either platform, together with a new signalling system in the area, enabling more trains to run.

The work is being delivered as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will enable the use of the Castleford line to divert trains and keep passengers moving during major upgrades on the main line between York and Leeds.

Following final completion of work, the new platform and footbridge will open in 2023.