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Thursday 30 Jun 2022

Football fans to check before they travel ahead of Women’s Euros in Sheffield and Manchester

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

Major progress on the £145m Hope Valley railway upgrade is on track this summer, with changes to services between Sheffield and Manchester every weekend in July.

Passengers travelling to watch the Women’s Euros in places like Sheffield, Manchester, Rotherham and Trafford should plan ahead with National Rail Enquiries to avoid disruption.

Engineers will begin building an additional railway track to remove several bottlenecks, allowing passenger trains to overtake slower freight trains. This will improve journey times, boost reliability and help people get to their destinations on time.

It means that every weekend in July, there will be a limited train service between Sheffield and Manchester. While projects of this size are planned years in advance, Network Rail has worked with UEFA and with train operating companies to keep fans moving by bus, coach or via an alternative route.

Dore & Totley, Grindleford, Bamford and Hathersage stations will also be closed during this time.

Hannah Lomas, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “I know that football fans will be looking forward to the Women’s Euros this summer and I’m sorry if our work impacts their plans. We’ve worked with our train operating colleagues to keep disruption to a minimum, using alternative routes and transport methods to help passengers get to their destinations.

“This is a really exciting stage of the project, which will transform the Hope Valley line and eventually see passengers enjoy better, more reliable rail services between Manchester and Sheffield.”

When complete, the multi-million-pound project will deliver:

• A new platform and accessible footbridge with lifts at Dore & Totley station 
• A railway loop between Bamford and Hathersage 
• A new overbridge at Hathersage West, replacing the current foot crossing to improve safety 
• Signalling improvements along the line to improve reliability 
• Platform extensions to allow for more carriages on services 

Tony Baxter, Regional Director at Northern, said: “This work will improve Hope Valley stations and services and we are delighted to be working with our partners on this project.

"We are sorry for any disruption during the improvements and our customers can be assured that both Northern and Network Rail will do everything possible to minimise the impact of the work and deliver alternatives that keep people on the move.”

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TransPennine Express, said: “This investment in the Hope Valley route is key in enabling better journeys across the north of England and for the communities we serve.

"While these vital works are happening, we will be working with our railway partners to keep disruption to a minimum. An amended service along our South route will also be running to help keep people on the move and we advise our customers to check before they travel.”

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We are unable to run trains between Manchester and Sheffield on the 2 and 3 July and therefore we are asking all customers to check before they travel.

“Where possible, rail replacement buses will be provided to help passengers with their onward journeys and all customers are advised to allow extra time to complete their journeys.”

ENDS