Green Light for Hope Valley route-capacity upgrade

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THE Department for Transport has granted Network Rail permission to proceed with the much-delayed scheme to increase capacity on the Hope Valley route in Derbyshire.

The upgrade will start in 2019 and take up to three years, after which it will be possible to increase fast Sheffield to Manchester trains from two to three per hour in each direction and double the frequency of Hope Valley ‘stoppers’ to introduce an hourly service.

Planned capacity upgrades on the Hope Valley route will include a long loop between Bamford and Hathersage, allowing faster trains to pass freights and all-stations passenger services. On October 26, 2012 Freightliner’s No. 70013 approaches Bamford with cement tanks from Earles Sidings to West Thurrock. GEOFF GRIFFITHS

A new 1,062m-long loop between Bamford and Hathersage will allow fast trains to pass stopping trains and freights, while the Up and Down Dore South Curve will be extended to hold 520m-long freights and the second track through Dore & Totley station, removed in 1985 to save money, will be reinstated.

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The work was originally due to be completed in 2018, but deferred by NR to save costs.

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