Dore and Totley Station to close on Sundays as work starts on Sheffield to Manchester rail link

The project will remove bottlenecks on the Hope Valley line to allow passenger trains to overtake slower freight trains and improve reliability, helping people get to their destinations on time, but will affect services while work is done.

Grindleford, Bamford and Hathersage

On Sunday (May 29), and every weekend throughout July, Dore and Totley, Grindleford, Bamford and Hathersage stations will close to allow Network Rail and contractor VolkerRailStory Joint Venture to begin building an additional railway line and make key station improvements.

Passengers are being urged to plan ahead with National Rail to keep their journeys on track.

The work is part of a £145m package of improvement and includes:

> A new platform and accessible footbridge with lifts at Dore & Totley station

> A railway loop between Bamford and Hathersage

> A new overbridge at Hathersage West, replacing the current foot crossing to improve safety

> Signalling improvements along the line to improve reliability

> Platform extensions to allow for more carriages on services

Station car park closures

Dore and Totley station car park will also be partially and fully closed at different periods over the next three months. Alternative parking spaces will be available at Abbeydale Sports Club and local businesses will remain open and accessible throughout.

Hannah Lomas, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We’re so pleased to see this major work begin – it’ll make Hope Valley stations and train services better, and improve reliability for passengers in the future.

“There will be some changes to services and car park closures while our work takes place, so I’d like to thank passengers for bearing with us and apologise for any inconvenience.”

Tony Baxter, Regional Director at Northern, said: “This work will improve Hope Valley stations and services and we are delighted to be working with our partners on this project.

"We are sorry for any disruption during the improvements and our customers can be assured that both Northern and Network Rail will do everything possible to minimise the impact of the work and deliver alternatives that keep people on the move.

TransPennine Express

Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express, said: “These works are a vital step towards delivering better services across the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester, improving the infrastructure to help make our customers journeys more reliable and upgrading stations we serve.

“While these engineering works take place on the Hope Valley line, there will be a number of changes to TransPennine Express services, and we’d advise our customers to check carefully for the latest advice before they travel.”

TRANSPORT: Decision on tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester expected in months

Darren Lockwood, Project Director from VRSJV, said: “We thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carry out these essential upgrade works on the Hope Valley line. The work plays an important part in facilitating this important investment in Northern travel infrastructure.”

Changes to train services on Sunday May 29 and every weekend in July will see Transpennine Express Manchester to Cleethorpes services diverted via Huddersfield. Services will terminate at Sheffield. A shuttle will run between Doncaster and Cleethorpes. Customers travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster will need to use another operator.

The same dates see services from Manchester terminate at Hope, with buses from Chinley to Sheffield.

And East Midlands Railway will run rail replacement buses between Stockport and Sheffield/Chesterfield.

Dore and Totley station car park will partially close on Wednesday May 25, 26, 27, and 28 and every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in June and July.

Full closures will be on May 29, every Saturday in June and every Saturday and Sunday in July.

NEWS: Snake’s on a train drama at Sheffield station as 3ft reptile escapes