The £70m mega-project to renovate the UK's 'most beautiful station' | United Kingdom

A train station which has been named “the most beautiful” in the UK is to undergo a major upgrade.

Huddersfield Station was the only English station on a list of global examples compiled by Time out review.

The interchange was praised for its impressive design – the result of a collaboration between two separate railway companies – which aimed to connect them into an extravagant centerpiece.

Visitors are also advised to look out for an oil painting of Felix, the resort’s “chief pest controller.” Felix is obviously a cat.

Today, this major 177-year-old destination will undergo major renovations. It is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) project.

It is expected to cost between £9 billion and £11.5 billion, with work at Huddersfield station costing £70 million.

On November 24, Network Rail said that, almost a year to the day since work began, progress on upgrading the interchange “continues”.

Part of this is ongoing roof restoration work. One of the few remaining ‘Euston style’ roofs on the railway operational today, the shed canopy will be ‘carefully preserved’.

Officials say the restoration of the roof canopy of platforms one and four is “progressing well.” Scaffolding towers and a raised working platform are currently in place at the station to allow experts to carry out the work.

Network Rail adds: “The raised platform has been encapsulated and includes soundproofing measures to reduce disruption to train services, passengers and trackside neighbours.

“Work carried out to date includes sandblasting to remove rust and old paint, repairing the steelwork and painting the Manchester end of the roof canopy.

“The roof coverings have now been removed in this area and needle injections are underway to further clear the canopy.

“Sandblasting has been completed at the Leeds end of the enclosed canopy, with steel reinforcement and repair underway on this section.

“A new lantern structure will also be reinstated along the full length of the roof to replicate the original which was removed some time ago.

“Another project that has been meticulously carried out within the historic station structure is the dismantling of the Grade II listed tea room on the island platform – built in 1886 – before its slight relocation.

“Made mainly of assorted wooden panels – making it one of the few wooden railway buildings still in use – it was recently dismantled into 8,000 different pieces and is now carefully stored before being reinstalled on the platform renovated.

“The relocation of the tearoom was necessary to accommodate the new station design, and its accessibility and visibility on the platform is to be improved by rotating it 180 degrees when reinstated.”