Posted 2nd November 2022 | 3 Comments
Part of Hope Valley line to close again
The long-running programme of upgrades on the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield is continuing.
Two possessions on the eastern end of the route have been arranged for two Sundays this month so that a new loop can be laid and a railway underbridge extended, widening the formation for future double track.
Dore & Totley station will also become more accessible.
Trains will not run between Sheffield and Edale on 13 and 20 November so that the work can go ahead. Network Rail will lay new track at Bamford in preparation for a new four-track loop between there and Hathersage, while the underbridge will be widened at Dore & Totley so that the line through the station can be doubled in future.
Principal programme sponsor Hannah Lomas 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.’
Reader Comments:
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david C Smith, Bletchley
Yes, I take the point re. franchise boundaries excluding other operators ( except allowed Open Access operators, with little opportunity for competition).
I do wonder, though whether places such as Bolton, Salford, and Rochdale might be able to gain significant benefits from the ability to reach Euston etc with no need to change train and station in central Manchester .
david C Smith, Bletchley
The mention of Ashburys to Miles Platting is there as a possible link between East Midland Trains and Manchester Victoria , for the one or two possible serviced a day that may not run into Piccadilly. Currently, I beleive there is no such service , but in post - Beeching BR days there was at least one train a day that followed such a route. That in turn used the Totley curve , for direct Erewash Valley - Hope Valley movements. As for the Denton route, it might even encourage a few Trans Pennine Trains from further North ( Scotland ?) to be extended on to Euston ?
[London is well outside the operating territory of TransPennine Express, and adjustments to operators’ boundaries are probably unlikely at present. Such an extension of TPE as you suggest would have implications for Avanti West Coast and perhaps West Midlands Railway.--Ed.]
david C Smith, Bletchley
Whilst discussing the railway geography round Manchester, can anyone tell me (a) Are the line from Ashburies to Miles Platting and the line from Stockport to Miles Platting via Denton still open and used? If the answers are affirmitive, could they form part of new service routes from North Manchester , Bolton, Salford and Rochdale to points south of Manchester (especially Euston)? If so, might such be able to bring some relief to Piccadilly - Deansgate?
[Miles Platting station closed in 1995. Denton is theoretically open but the Friday-only train does not seem to be running at the moment. The line itself is open, as far as I can tell. There is no direct line between Stockport and Ashburys since the line through Audenshaw was closed. (The second station there was closed in 1950, and Audenshaw is now a Metrolink stop.)--Ed.]