Reminder: Sheffield bridge replacement taking place this weekend: Sheaf bridge arrives

Monday 2 Mar 2026

Reminder: Sheffield bridge replacement taking place this weekend

Region & Route:
Eastern
| Eastern: North & East

Passengers are reminded that journey times this weekend will be affected by the reconstruction of a bridge deck in Sheffield this weekend (7-8 March).

Services between Sheffield and Chesterfield will be affected while the core work takes place to replace the steel structure carrying the railway over the River Sheaf at Beauchief to ensure the continued safe running of the line.

The new 73-tonne bridge deck will be lifted into place by crane. Sixty metres of track will also be renewed, held in place with 86 tonnes of ballast and 90 new sleepers. This work will mean on 7-8 March:

  • East Midlands Railway (EMR) running an amended and reduced service between Sheffield and London St Pancras, with journey times taking longer than usual between Sheffield and Chesterfield.
  • An amended EMR service between Sheffield and Nottingham, and between Nottingham and Norwich, as a result of other engineering work taking place between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield.
  • EMR trains between Sheffield and Nottingham calling additionally at Alfreton, Ilkeston and Langley Mill.
  • Northern having rail replacement buses between Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Preparatory work started in January with a site compound established at nearby Dore & Totley station. This has meant changes to parking arrangements at Dore & Totley station, with alternative parking available at Abbeydale Sports Club*, but both station platforms will remain open and accessible throughout the project.

Tom Grainger, Network Rail lead portfolio manager, said:

“Replacing this life-expired bridge is essential to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the railway between Sheffield and Chesterfield. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the temporary parking arrangements for Dore & Totley station, and the changes to services this weekend, as we deliver this vital upgrade.”

A spokesperson on behalf of EMR and Northern said: 

“We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep passengers moving while this essential upgrade takes place in Sheffield. Services will be amended over the weekend of 7-8 March, so we’re encouraging customers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while Network Rail carries out this project.”

The project is set to be completed and the station car park fully restored by the end of April.

Notes to Editors

*Dore & Totley station parking arrangements:

  • Until 27 March: Full Dore & Totley station car park closure to allow essential works to take place. Alternative pedestrian access will be provided and clearly signposted.
  • 27 March to late April: Partial closure returns. Pedestrian access will return to its original route.

EMR customers can find more travel information by clicking here.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Gareth Dennison
Media relations manager, Eastern region
Network Rail
07561 874858
gareth.dennison@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk