Construction of the line was much delayed; there was an Act of 12 August 1867, permitting a doubling of the authorised capital, some deviations of the route, and an extension of time. Nevertheless the depressed state of the money market meant that the scheme lay dormant until a further Act was obtained on 1 August 1870, sanctioning a second extension of time, and vesting the undertaking jointly in the GNR and L&YR. The concern was then renamed the Halifax and Ovenden Joint Railway. Soon afterwards, construction began from a junction with the L&YR at the north end of Halifax station, for to . The steepest gradient was 1 in 45 and the sharpest curve was radius. A masonry viaduct carried the line through Halifax, with 35 spans which varied from . A short distance beyond that, the line crossed another viaduct of 11 spans which varied from . There were two tunnels, North Bridge () and Lee Bank (). Earthworks were heavy, with high retaining walls. Goods depots were opened at North Bridge and Holmfield. The line opened for goods between Halifax and on 17 August 1874, to Holmfield on 1 September 1874, and was opened to passengers throughout on 1 December 1879.