Network Rail has completed the 150 million GBP Hope Valley Railway Upgrade project, which is expected to enhance journeys between Manchester and Sheffield.
To celebrate this achievement, Rail Minister Huw Merriman visited Dore & Totley station in Sheffield on Monday 8 April, where a new and fully accessible platform has now opened.
First train at new Dore & Totley platform
© Network Rail
This marks the first time that the station has had two platforms since the 1980s. The new platform connects to the existing platform by a fully accessible footbridge. Meanwhile, the existing platform at Dore & Totley has also been extended to accommodate 6 carriage trains.
“I am delighted to be in Sheffield today to mark the completion of the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade – another project delivered which demonstrates our continued commitment to improving transport in the North of England. This Government funded scheme means passengers will now benefit from improved reliability and accessibility when travelling between Sheffield and Manchester.”
The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade programme has also delivered a series of other improvements along the route, including:
- Signalling upgrades to improve reliability
- A new overbridge at Hathersage West
- A 1 1-kilometre railway loop between Bamford and Hathersage, allowing faster services to overtake slower trains
- Additional track at the South of Dore & Totley station to relieve a longstanding freight train bottleneck
This project has been delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade working with StoryVolker JV.
“The completion of the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade is a great step for train travel in the North, and I’m thrilled to be able to make it official alongside the Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, at Dore & Totley today. After three years of hard work and planning, passengers between Manchester and Sheffield can enjoy a much-improved railway.”
