Apprentices Driving Progress on Transpennine Route Upgrade During National Apprenticeship Week

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (9–15 February), the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is highlighting the contribution apprentices are making to the transformation of rail services across the North of England.

As the programme enters a significant phase of delivery, work is well underway to provide faster journeys, increased service frequency and a greener, more reliable railway. Supporting these ambitions is a growing network of apprentices working across a broad mix of roles, including engineering, planning, analytics and project management.

Apprentices are not only building valuable skills for their own careers but are also helping to shape the programme by introducing fresh perspectives and new approaches. Their involvement is strengthening delivery today while helping to develop the railway workforce of tomorrow.

Since the project began, TRU has generated 455 apprenticeship roles through targeted investment in training and skills development. The programme remains on track to create a total of 590 apprenticeship opportunities before completion.

Importantly, more than half of these positions are entry-level or first-time roles, offering local people the chance to begin their careers in rail and helping ensure the workforce reflects the diversity of the communities along the route.

Alice Smith, TRU Associate Sponsor and former Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Apprentice, challenged common assumptions about who apprenticeships are for.

“There’s a misconception that apprenticeships are only for 16- or 18-year-olds,” she said. “I joined at 23 after completing a History degree, so there isn’t one set path into this kind of role.

“You’ll find people who’ve just left school alongside those who are older, with families and varied experiences. That diversity of backgrounds brings real strength to TRU.”

Reflecting on her own experience, she added: “My apprenticeship deepened my understanding of social value and sustainability, which has been invaluable in my current role. It’s given me the confidence to influence decisions and help improve how we approach these areas.”

She pointed to her involvement in a community farm initiative at a school in Ravensthorpe as a particularly rewarding example. The project aims to support hands-on learning and help students develop practical skills.

Mohammed Patel, a Planning Apprentice on the programme, is among many others gaining practical experience while contributing to the delivery of one of the North’s most significant rail upgrades.

Through its apprenticeship programme, TRU continues to invest not only in infrastructure but in the people who will help sustain and improve the railway for generations to come.