Rail works to cause weekend train disruption

Train passengers are being warned over disruption this weekend, with direct services between Sheffield and Manchester cancelled entirely.

Network Rail said trains would be affected on Saturday and Sunday while work to replace the bridge deck at Beauchief, in Sheffield, is carried out.

Under the scheme, a new 73-tonne bridge deck, which carries the railway over the River Sheaf, will be lifted into place.

Ahead of the weekend's disruption, Network Rail's lead portfolio manager, Tom Grainger, said the company was "very sorry for any inconvenience".

He said the work was essential to ensure the "continued safe running of the railway", adding that nearly 200ft (60m) of rail would also be renewed as part of the project.

As a result of the work, TransPennine Express services between Sheffield and Manchester Oxford Road via Stockport will not run this weekend, while trains between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly will be diverted to run via Huddersfield.

Trains between York and Manchester Piccadilly will run between York and Wakefield Kirkgate only.

Northern services between Nottingham and Leeds will run between Sheffield and Leeds.

Network Rail said tickets would be accepted on East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and Sheffield, which will call at Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Alfreton and Chesterfield. Buses will be provided between Dronfield and Sheffield.

Northen services that usually run between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly will run between Grindleford and Manchester Piccadilly only, with a rail replacement bus running between Sheffield and Bamford.

On Saturday, East Midlands Railway services between Norwich and Liverpool Lime Street will operate on an amended timetable, with trains from "mid-morning not calling at Sheffield but calling additionally at Dronfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill, Ilkeston and Bamford, to serve Northern passengers".

Trains on the same service, on Sunday, will call additionally at Alfreton, Langley Mill and Ilkeston, to serve Northern passengers.

East Midlands Railway trains will start and terminate at Sheffield, Network Rail said, but passengers travelling beyond Sheffield can "use other operators' services".

CrossCountry services between Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield will be "re-timed by a few minutes," Network Rail said.

It added: "Preparation work in recent weeks has meant Dore and Totley station's car park being used as a project compound.

"Alternative parking is available at Abbeydale Badminton Club (to the rear of Abbeydale Sports Club) and accessible drop-off and pick-up points have been provided at Ladies Spring Grove."

The station platforms will not be accessible this weekend.

The project was originally due to take place in March, but was postponed and is now set to be completed in December.

Grainger added: "Replacing this life-expired bridge will help continue the safe and reliable operation of the railway for decades to come.

"We appreciate that this is the second time we've asked people to adjust their travel plans and parking arrangements, and we're very sorry for any inconvenience."

Network Rail is "working closely with train operators to minimise disruption," he said.

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