RAILWAY passengers on some routes in the Sheffield and Chesterfield areas will have longer journeys and some services will be cancelled from tomorrow (18 February) because Network Rail engineers have sounded the alarm about the state of a hillside near Chesterfield following recent heavy rain.

Network Rail said its engineers had been 'carefully managing and monitoring the situation' since the New Year, but it has now been decided to close one of the two tracks through Unstone while the hill is stabilised.

An hourly direct East Midlands Trains service between Sheffield and London will be maintained but this will be diverted via Darnall and Woodhouse, adding an estimated 20 minutes to journey times. Many EMT services to Derby and Sheffield will terminate at Derby, while passengers on other routes in the area, including those operated by CrossCountry and Northern, are being warned to expect timetable changes and disruptions. Freight trains will also be diverted.

Network Rail route managing director Phil Verster said: “We have done everything possible to maintain a normal service through Unstone but the continuing poor weather and movement of the bank means we will need to close one of the tracks. This decision has been taken to protect the safety of everyone who uses and works on the railway. We thank passengers and our freight customers for their patience as we deal with this situation.

“From the start of service on Tuesday 18 February we will need to alter train services in order to divert around this area while our expert teams stabilise the hillside. The line will fully reopen as quickly as it is safe to do so. At the moment we anticipate the work could take between four and six weeks. We will confirm the re-opening date as soon as possible.”