Tuesday 1 Nov 2022
Passengers urged to plan ahead of major railway improvements on Hope Valley line
Passengers on the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield should check before travelling on two Sundays in November, as multi-million-pound upgrades to the line continue.
The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade involves several key pieces of engineering work along the route, enabling more reliable journeys and improved accessibility at Dore & Totley station
In November, engineers will undertake work in a step towards realising the Hope Valley Route Upgrade’s key benefits.
New rail track will be laid at Bamford, as part of the ongoing installation of a passing loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations which will allow faster trains to pass slower trains. Several pieces of work at Dore & Totley including the extension of a railway underbridge will set the foundations for a second line to pass through the station.
Trains will not run between Edale and Sheffield on Sunday 13 November and Sunday 20 November, to allow engineers to install new track around Bamford station, and upgrades at Dore & Totley. Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before travelling.
While vital building materials are delivered, Dore & Totley station car park will be closed from 6am Friday 04 November to 12pm Friday 25 November. Alternative parking will be available in Abbeydale Sports Club, in the top car park, while accessible parking and a drop-off point will be made available on Ladies Spring Grove Road.
Local businesses, Hair Union, Rajdhani restaurant and the Summerhouse restaurant will remain open and accessible throughout.
The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade is a critical project to remove several bottlenecks between Manchester and Sheffield, making train journeys better and more reliable for passengers.
Hannah Lomas, Principal Programme Sponsor at Network Rail, said: “The next phase of construction work has started on the Hope Valley line, continuing the essential upgrade to make Dore & Totley station more accessible and train services between Manchester and Sheffield more reliable for passengers.
“Thank you to the local community for their patience and understanding while we undertake this work.”
Notes to Editors
- New rail track is to be installed near to Bamford station.
- At Dore & Totley we will be carrying out excavation work, re-ballast work (digging up and replacing the rail stone), tamping work (packing stone under the rail track), as well as extending a railway underbridge. There will also be freight trains and other rail machinery in the area.
Work in both areas will take place at the following times and dates:
- Saturday 11pm to 6am, 06 November 2022
- Saturday nights 11pm to 6am, from 26 November to 18 December 2022
- From 11pm Saturday 12 November to 6am Monday 14 November
- From 11pm Saturday 19 November to 6am Monday 21 November
- On Sunday 13 November and Sunday 20 November we will need to close a section of the Hope Valley line to complete this work. Rail operators are using diversionary routes to keep passengers on longer journeys moving by train where possible.
- Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield will start and terminate at Edale. Customers should change between train and rail replacement bus at Chinley. Buses will operate between Sheffield and Chinley, with a minibus operating between Edale and Hope due to the road layout. Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries before travelling.
- Signage is displayed at Dore & Totley station to inform station passengers that alternative parking will be available in Abbeydale Sports Club, in the top car park, while accessible parking and a drop-off point will be made available on Ladies Spring Grove Road. We will also be implementing no parking, no loading and no waiting restrictions on Dore Road to ensure that this does not become congested with cars unable to park at the station.
Key improvements of the Hope Valley Route Upgrade include:
- A new platform and accessible footbridge with lifts at Dore & Totley station
- A railway loop between Bamford and Hathersage
- Replacing Hathersage West foot crossing with an overbridge to improve safety
- Signalling improvements along the line to improve reliability
- Lengthening station platforms to allow for more carriages on services
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Alec Herron
+447809377569
alec.herron@networkrail.co.uk
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