Improved rail links between Sheffield and Manchster 'vital' to bid to fire up northern economy

A submission to the Government’s National Infrastructure Committee, signed off by transport bosses at Sheffield City Region, calls for a raft of improvements in the area’s rail connectivity.

One area highlighted is the link between the two cities at opposite ends of the Pennines and the ‘vital’ need for a third fast train per hour.

Sheffield City Region bosses said with future improvements, fast journeys to Manchester should take no longer than 40 minutes - around 15 minutes less than at present.

Work to add a third train an hour to Manchester and to better divert freight wagons in the Peak District got underway in 2018 but the project has been dogged by delays.

The project includes a one kilometre passing loop near Bamford station alongside the existing line, to allow fast passenger trains to overtake slower freight services

Dore South Curve will be extended between West View Lane and Dore West Junction to also allow fast passenger trains to overtake slower freight services.

Capacity of Dore and Totley station is to be boosted, including a second track through the station and a new platform provided, to be accessed by a new footbridge and lifts.

Most of the work should’ve already been completed but the scheme is not expected to be completed until 2023.

At present, the line is unelectrified and is predominantly a two-track railway with at-grade junctions.

The capacity of platforms and the approaches to both Sheffield Midland and Manchester Piccadilly stations, particularly the through platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly and the Castlefield rail corridor.

These have been identified as ‘significant constraints’ both today and for future rail growth, not just for South Yorkshire, but also more ‘widely for rail services in the North and Midlands’.

Alex Forrest, Sheffield City Region senior transport programme manager, said: “The cities of Sheffield and Manchester also have some of the poorest transport connections between major city pairs in the UK with both road and rail connections being slow and having capacity constraints, as well as being particularly susceptible to adverse weather.

“The current rail journey between the two city centres via the Hope Valley Line takes just over 50 minutes at best. Trains are crowded and the customer experience is poor, and this is not helped by relatively old rolling stock and a fragmented service offer.

“Also, the limited available train paths in this corridor have to be shared between passenger services and significant freight demand serving a number of the Peak District quarries.

“Providing a high performance, intercity style service with modern rolling stock and significantly more seats as envisaged in the Northern Powerhouse Rail plans is a high priority for both SCR and Greater Manchester in order to provide much better connections between two of the UK’s largest city regions.”

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