---
title: TRU East Alliance completes major upgrades that will transform train travel in the north of England
url: "https://www.systra.com/uk/news/tru-east-alliance-completes-major-upgrades-that-will-transform-train-travel-in-the-north-of-england/"
type: post
date_published: 2026-02-09
date_modified: 2026-02-09
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-GB
word_count: 673
reading_time: 4 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/uk/news/tru-east-alliance-completes-major-upgrades-that-will-transform-train-travel-in-the-north-of-england/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/02/tru-east-eis-u-blockade-completed-1.png"
categories:
  - Non classé
---

# TRU East Alliance completes major upgrades that will transform train travel in the north of England

![TRU East Alliance completes major upgrades that will transform train travel in the north of England](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/02/tru-east-eis-u-blockade-completed-1.png)

Following more than a year of planning, collaboration and preparation, the Entry
into Service (EiS) U blockade has been successfully completed, after a
successful 32 day blockade.

This programme represents one of the largest and most complex pieces of work
delivered by the TRU East Alliance, comprised of VolkerRail, Network Rail,
Murphy, Siemens Mobility, and SYSTRA.

![TRU East EiS U blockade completed 2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/02/tru-east-eis-u-blockade-completed-2.png)

The majority of the infrastructure re-modelling took place in and around Church
Fenton, with the blockade delivering two key EiS milestones:

**Stage 1:** The culmination of two years of rail systems improvements. Within
the first 100 hours, teams installed 17 kilometres of lineside containment and
bases, creating a new route for low voltage power distribution, new signalling
systems and new telecoms cables. These systems were commissioned into use
between Leeds and Church Fenton, including new data and screen changes at York’s
Regional Operations Centre, where the new signalling system will be controlled.

**Stage 2: **The remainder of the blockade focused on re-modelling the
infrastructure including 3km of track, eleven switches and crossings, 70 new
signals, major earthworks and platform modifications to enable future line speed
increases.

Ahead of the blockade, the installation of Rose Lane Bridge and Barrowby
Bridleway Bridge marked significant enabling milestones. These structures
allowed eight level crossings/user works crossings in the surrounding area to be
closed, delivering significant safety improvements and providing safer routes
for pedestrians and vehicles to cross the railway.

![Steph McElhatton HI RES (3)](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/02/steph-mcelhatton-hi-res-3-683x1024.jpg)

> The collaborative approach among the TRU East Alliance partners is clear to
> see in the delivery of this most recent work, and in every piece of the
> project completed to date. The whole team is rightly proud of their role in
> bringing faster, greener and more reliable services to the North of England.
> Steph McElhatton, Programme Director at SYSTRA ltd

Stuart Birch, VolkerRail managing director said: “On behalf of the entire TRUe
Alliance leadership team, we would like to express our deepest thanks and
admiration for the dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of the
TRU East Alliance.

“This was an extraordinary undertaking. Delivering a blockade of this duration
and complexity is a remarkable feat. The scale, complexity, and intensity of the
works demanded not only technical excellence but also professionalism,
composure, and teamwork. Your efforts have made a lasting difference that will
be felt long into the future.”

Jamie Rothwell, transportation managing director at Murphy, said: “This latest
project milestone demonstrates the truly collaborative nature of the TRU East
Alliance. At Murphy we are proud to have played our part in successfully
completing this blockade and look forward to continuing to work together on
upgrades in order to deliver faster, greener, more reliable train services
between York, Leeds and Manchester.

Matt Kent, director of operations and manufacturing – rail infrastructure,
Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be a partner in this
project, providing signalling, power and telecommunications backed by 18,000
engineering hours. This vital upgrade enhances safety, bolsters resilience, and
improves punctuality, creating a more reliable route for passengers and freight
users. Achievements of this scale are only possible through the expertise,
dedication and collaboration of our teams and partners, marking a crucial step
in our commitment to transform rail travel and transport for the North.”

James Richardson, TRU managing director, said: “It’s great to have completed
these critical railway upgrades, between Leeds and York. Facing all weathers,
our teams worked around the clock during the Christmas period and through
January, delivering a host of improvements for passengers, safely and on time.

“Our work highlights the impact we are making in transforming the railway in the
North of England, helping to enable economic growth, while building future
capability for major projects.”

This successful delivery reflects the collective effort of everyone involved,
from on-site teams and support functions to those who played a critical role in
planning, assurance and coordination.

**Categories:** Non classé