Long-lost Sheffield railway station should be reopened, says MP

Millhouses and Ecclesall railway station was closed, along with stops at Heeley and Beauchief, as part of the Dr Beeching cuts of the 1960s and early 70s.

Olivia Blake, MP for Sheffield Hallam, has called for it to be revived to reduce traffic on Abbeydale Road and other major arteries into the city centre.

Fury as group of 14 men ignore lockdown laws by playing football in Sheffield park

The Labour politician has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps asking for this to be considered as part of plans to extend the UK’s railway network by reversing some of Dr Beeching’s cuts.

“Compared to the UK’s other large cities, one thing Sheffield lacks is an adequate suburban rail network. We currently only have a few stations beyond Sheffield station, such as Dore & Totley or Meadowhall, but this hasn’t always been the case,” she said.

Police chief sends message on mass gatherings and people ‘wilfully breaching’ Sheffield lockdown

“Millhouses and Ecclesall railway station is one station among many that served the people of Sheffield for years before falling foul of the Beeching cuts, and I’ve recently written to the Secretary of State for Transport asking for it be considered for reopening because I think it would have a great effect for that area of my constituency; it would provide a new way to commute into town for a wide radius of commuters, and greatly reduce congestion for areas like Abbeydale Road.”

The Government earlier this year announced it was investing £20 million to help create new railway stations in the UK, or reopen closed ones. The deadline to apply for the third round of its New Stations Fund falls on June 5.

Scientists say more contagious mutant strain of coronavirus is sweeping globe

The Government has also pledged £500 million for its Reversing Beeching Fund to reopen lost railway routes, with an application made to revive the line between Sheffield city centre and Stocksbridge.

When Ms Blake asked railways minister Chris Heaton-Harris last month if the Government would consider reopening Millhouses and Ecclesall railway station, he replied that all applications to ‘level up’ local economies by improving rail connections would be considered.