Rail line to close temporarily for £3m upgrade

A railway branch line in Derbyshire is set to close for nine days as part of a project to replace sections of track.

Network Rail is spending £3m on the work on the Derwent Valley Line between Derby and Matlock, and trains will be replaced by buses for nine days from 14 November while more than 2.8 miles (4.5km) of track is replaced.

The work will mean smoother journeys for passengers and reduce unplanned maintenance in the future, the transport body said.

Engineers will use a specialist track construction train which lays new rail and sleepers -the concrete supports beneath the rails - as it travels.

The upgrade work will mean rail replacement buses running between Derby and Matlock from 14 to 22 November, calling at all stations.

Services between Derby and Sheffield via Chesterfield will be unaffected. Passengers are advised that bus stops may be a short distance from the station.

The improvement project will see new rail installed across the three sites – Matlock Bath, Cromford and near Whatstandwell station – along with 3,509 sleepers and 6,400 tonnes of ballast.

There will be eight engineering trains in use including a New Track Construction train.

The specialised train lays new rails and sleepers as it travels, allowing a much higher volume than would otherwise be achievable – maximising efficiency in terms of delivery and cost.

Eric Larocque, Network Rail operations director, said: "This investment will renew key sections of track along the Derwent Valley Line, helping us provide a safer, more reliable railway for passengers and freight operators.

"By replacing rail, sleepers and ballast that have reached the end of their working life, we're improving the resilience of the East Midlands route and reducing the need for unplanned maintenance.

"We'd like to thank passengers and residents for their patience while this important work is carried out, and we're sorry to those whose journeys will be affected."

Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, said: "We'd like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while this vital work takes place.

"We understand that changes to your journey can be disruptive, and we appreciate your support while we work to improve our railway.

"Customers can find details of rail replacement bus stop locations on our station webpages.

"As some stops may be a short distance from the station, we encourage anyone who needs extra support or is unable to use the walking route to get in touch with our dedicated Passenger Assist team, who will be happy to help.

"Clear signage will be in place to help customers find their way, but we recommend allowing a little extra time for your journey to help you travel as smoothly as possible."

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