Hope Valley: Parts of railway line to close for final works

Sections of the line will be closed as work on the Hope Valley line nears completion

Disruption to passengers is expected as a section of railway line will close.

The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade - aiming to improve journeys between Sheffield and Manchester - is nearing completion with closures planned to facilitate the final stages.

Passenger trains through the Derbyshire Peak District will be affected on several days over the next four months.

Network Rail said fewer trains would be running, with some services replaced by bus or diverted via other routes.

The major elements of track work for the Bamford loop have been completed

Parts of the railway line will be closed on the following dates:

• 23:00 GMT on Friday 19 January, until 01:00 on Monday 22 January

• 23:00 on Friday 26 January, until 01:00 on Monday 29 January

• 23:00 on Saturday 3 February, until 01:00 on Monday 5 February

• 23:00 on Saturday 10 February, until 01:00 on Monday 12 February

• 23:00 on Friday 15 March, until 05:15 on Monday 25 March

• 23:00 on Friday 26 April, until 20:00 on Wednesday 1 May

The project will help relieve a long-standing bottleneck, allowing for passenger trains to pass slower freight trains on the route.

Totalling 850m (2,789ft) in length, the track forms part of a new passing loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations.

Passengers are encouraged to check before they travel for more information about changes to journeys.

This includes football fans whose journeys will be affected as Stockport County travel to Notts County on 20 January.

Throughout the closures, a project team will be focused on Dore & Totley station in Sheffield and Grindleford, Derbyshire, to complete earthworks, track upgrades and station improvements.

Signalling work will also take place between New Mills in Derbyshire and Manchester Piccadilly.