The Hope Valley upgrade in the north of England is improving the railway between Manchester and Sheffield. The project is being promoted as a provision for more reliable and faster passenger journeys. However, the route is also vital to freight operations. It generates multiple flows from industrial plants and aggregates quarries. The latest part of the project is equally significant for both.
The final track lengths have been installed to help relieve a long-standing bottleneck on the Hope Valley railway line. A new 850-metre passing loop will allow faster and more reliable rail journeys for passengers and let existing freight services pass with less disruption. It will also increase capacity on the line.
Around-the-clock schedule
The work is part of the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, which will improve journeys and route reliability between Manchester and Sheffield. Construction of the passing loop has taken place over the past year, including two full weekend line closures. Engineers worked around the clock to complete significant elements.
The track forms part of a new passing loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations, allowing passenger trains to pass slower freight trains on the route. According to the main contractors, VolkerRailStory joint venture, a total of 1,323 sleepers were installed, along with 3,600 tonnes of ballast. A number of structures have also been upgraded, including a bridge extension in Bamford and three culverts.
Nearly four kilometres of new track
The passing loop is expected to be operational in Spring 2024 once signalling work along the route is completed. “It’s fantastic to see another important milestone reached on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade,” said Graeme Whitehead, senior sponsor for Network Rail. “This is an important step that will allow us to improve journeys between Manchester and Sheffield for years to come.”
A total of 3,923 metres of new track, including the new loop, has now been installed along the Hope Valley line to provide additional passing places for trains and improve the reliability of services. “We are very pleased to say that the major elements of track work for the Bamford loop have been completed”, said James Goldsby, project director for the VolkerRailStory joint venture. “It has taken a large amount of work and planning to get here, and we look forward to completing the final signalling elements to allow the benefits to be realised.”
A series of weekend possessions in January, February and March should bring the project to a conclusion.
