Editing Penistone Line (section)

== The Penistone Line today ==
[[File:Platform 2 for the Penistone Line.jpg|thumb|Platform 2 at Huddersfield, used only by Sheffield trains]]
The Penistone Line Partnership, representing local interests, is a long-time supporter of services on the route, providing music and real-ale trains.

In November 2005, the line was named as a pilot project within the [[Department for Transport|Department for Transport's]] Community Rail Strategy. The section from Barnsley to Huddersfield was designated a [[community rail]] line in May 2006. This led to line speed improvements at Cumberworth Tunnel and improved reliability. Passenger numbers have continued to grow to a record 1,030,000 in 2005 – a stark contrast from the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the line was under threat of closure due to falling levels of patronage and the possible loss of revenue support from both PTEs.{{sfn|Body|1988|pp=31–32}}

The entire Barnsley to Huddersfield route was originally double tracked. However, following modernisation works in 1983 and 1989, it was reduced to a single line, apart from a pair of crossing loops at Penistone and between Stocksmoor and Shepley. Control was split between the Huddersfield and Barnsley signal boxes but, by 2018, the [[Rail Operating Centre]] at {{rws|York}} was to take over the signalling of the entire route.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Williams |first1=Alan |title=East Yorkshire begins to ROC |magazine=Modern Railways |date=January 2019 |volume=75 |issue=844 |page=21 |publisher=Key Publishing |location=Stamford |issn=0026-8356|quote=The lines previously controlled from Huddersfield and Healey Mills signal boxes are now supervised by the Huddersfield workstation in York ROC, ... with Barnsley on the single track Penistone line in the south... Control from York ROC is by Siemens Controlguide Westcad to renewed remote interlockings at Healey Mills, Thornhill LNW, Heaton Lodge, Greetland and Huddersfield, and will in due course be enabled with Automatic Route Setting (ARS)}}</ref>

=== Tram-train trial ===
On 18 March 2008, the Department for Transport released details of a proposal to trial [[tram-train]]s on the Penistone Line, the first use of such vehicles in the UK. The trial was to start in 2010 and last for two years. [[Northern Rail]], the operator of passenger services on the line, asked potential manufacturers to tender for the design and construction of five new vehicles, which Northern Rail would subsequently lease. In addition, [[Network Rail]] planned to spend £15&nbsp;million modifying track and stations to make them compatible with the new vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Innovative 'tram-trains' to be trialled in Yorkshire |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/innovative-tram-trains-to-be-trialled-in-yorkshire |access-date=6 December 2017 |work=Network Rail Media Centre |date=18 March 2008}}</ref>

However, it was announced on 15 September 2009 that a city tram-train trial between Rotherham and Sheffield would replace the Penistone Line scheme.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8257652.stm |title=City tram-trains trial unveiled |work=[[BBC News]] |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=15 September 2009}}</ref>