Hope Valley Capacity Improvement Scheme - January 2015

Overview

Better journeys

We're planning to improve sections of railway in the Hope Valley, close to Dore & Totley station, Bamford and Hathersage. Our plans will allow passenger services to overtake slower moving freight and stopping passenger trains.

This will deliver better journeys on the line between Manchester and Sheffield.

Background

We consulted on previous plans to improve the railway in the Hope Valley in November 2013. Those proposals included the construction of a new 1km passing loop near Grindleford station, as well as improvement work around Dore & Totley station. Since then, the project has moved on and a new option to the East of Bamford station is proposed as a replacement for the previous proposal at Grindleford.

The new option, between Bamford station and Jagger’s Lane bridge near Hathersage, is easier to build and generates fewer construction impacts. In addition to this, the new plans do not affect any ancient woodland.

The plans for works near Dore & Totley station and at Dore South Curve remain largely unchanged from what we consulted on in 2013. However, we would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness of the plans for this area again now that we are developing the design of the scheme to support the Transport and Works Act Order application.

Improving rail in the north

Network Rail is improving the Hope Valley’s railway as part of over £1 billion of investment to deliver faster, more frequent services across the north of England. Demand for train travel between Sheffield and Manchester is increasing, with forecasts showing by 2029 demand will grow 56% in Sheffield and 66% in Manchester. The proposals will improve the line between Sheffield and Manchester, and include major upgrades to the railway near Dore & Totley, Bamford and Hathersage.

The environment

The railway is a sustainable for of transport. We work hard to reduce our impact on the environment and put rail at the heart of a low carbon economy.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for our work near Dore & Totley station has already been started and the scope is being extended to inlcude the proposed new passing loop between Bamford station and Jagger's Lane bridge. An Environmental Statement will be produced to present the findings of all aspects of the assessment and will inform the detail of the application.

Consent for the work

Where we are proposing to use land or build outside of the established boundary of the railway, we will submit an application for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Some of the improvements will take place within the boundaries of Network Rail’s land and will not be included in the TWAO application.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will consider all aspects of the scheme, whether part of the TWAO or not.

Why we are consulting

 We are consulting with the public, stakeholders and colleagues in the rail industry on our plans.

Your feedback is important to us. The feedback submitted to us, along with a range of other factors, will be reported on as part of the Transport and Works Act Order application and will help inform the detail of the final scheme.

For more details on the proposals, and to submitt your feedback on the plans, please follow the link below.

The public consultation is open until 28 February 2015.

If you have any further questions you can contact us by emailing hubconsultation-hopevalley@networkrail.co.uk or call 08457 11 41 41