Work underway to remove Manchester-Sheffield bottlenecks

The first 340 metres of new track have been installed as part of the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, Network Rail said this week. The upgrade project is designed bottlenecks along the route between Manchester and Sheffield.

Work is currently ongoing at Bamford on the Hope Valley line. There, a new 1-kilometre passing loop should enable faster trains to continue uninterrupted while slower trains can make use of the new track. The bypass runs between the Bamford and Hathersage stations. This projects and the other upgrades on the line are backed by 137 million pounds (153 million euros) in government funding. At Hathersage West, a new overbridge will also be installed.

The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade has been ongoing for some time. Since January, over 700 metres of track in the Dore & Totley ward. The second line in the area also necessitated improvements to the local station, such as a new platform and footbrigde.

Other Hope Valley Railway Upgrade include improvements to the signalling system on the line as well as platform extension at stations along the route so that trains with additional carriages can call there.

“These vital improvements will transform journeys on the historic Hope Valley line, making services faster and more reliable for passengers in the North. Backed by £137 million Government funding, the upgrades will boost connections between two thriving Northern cities while ensuring our stations are inclusive and accessible for all”, rail minister Huw Merriman said of the project.

Further reading:

• Low-carbon high-tech bridge crosses the tracks
• Precious little rail funding in second UK Levelling Up round