Heritage railway line set to reopen after landslip

Work was able to be completed following an anonymous £10,000 donation to the fundraising campaign

A heritage railway line that has been undergoing a restoration following a landslip will reopen later this week.

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) reached its £30,000 fundraising target in April after a campaign was launched to restore services to Duffield Station.

Work has been carried out to move the track near the southern end of the line three metres to the left to avoid the landslip and EVR says train services will resume on Friday 14 June.

The heritage railway said engineers and volunteers had been working “tirelessly” to restore the line.

Railway chairman Neil Ferguson-Lee praised the engineers and staff for their work on the line

Neil Ferguson-Lee, chairman of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, said: "This has been a long and arduous journey, but we must celebrate the remarkable resilience of our community and the unwavering dedication of our staff and volunteers.

"The successful completion of this complex project is a testament to the incredible support we received from our loyal visitors, generous donors, and skilled engineers."

Since October, the railway has only been taking passengers as far as Shottle. despite usually running between Wirksworth and Duffield.

The landslip began about a year ago, but Storm Babet worsened the situation, and the slip was encroaching on the line near Duffield.

The opening of the line will coincide with a Back to the 40s event, which will feature displays, entertainment and traders.

Donna Taylor, the railway’s business development officer, added: “We are thrilled to welcome passengers back to Duffield Station.

“We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion and rediscover the joy of traveling along our historic line."

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