What should be done with the Stocksbridge to Sheffield line?

[GrimsbyPacer]

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...dge-line-set-to-be-announced-in-budget.223508

Always thought Stocksbridge would be great for a Supertram extension.

 

[daodao]

Another one of those misguided ideas that, just because a steel rail exists, it must have passenger trains on it. I know the geography and social make up of this area first hand and the facts are:
A Stocksbridge station, whilst superficially centrally located, is actually in a low valley and a long uphill walk to most of the housing in Stocksbridge. Deepcar station is also remote and downhill from the housing that it will serve. Oughtibridge station is the wrong side of the river Don and also a hike to most of the housing. Wadsley Bridge serves no purpose as the vast estates that it 'serves' at Foxhill and Parsons Cross have frequent city buses that go direct to the city centre (and Hillsborough centre which the line bypasses well to the north). So say 75% of all journeys from these localities will need to involve a bus or car journey to the station to begin with, this has FAIL stamped all over it. SYPTE exhibited plans for this way back in the late 70s, along with other stuff like monorails, and it never got off the ground as Sheffield folk are so wedded to bus travel. I speak from experience as a bus driver there many years ago that they care nothing about quality, or value, only the cost, and would happily let 3 proper buses go by to save 5p on the dirty, bus cowboyCo cheaper one.

Then we have Sheffield Victoria... what is this crazy obsession of reopening what was a dump of a station in the dump end of town, again requiring a long walk or a bus journey to the main shopping areas of Fargate and The Moor. I see there is an equally crazy idea to reopen the Barrow Hill line to passengers and make it a Sheffield Cross City line. Why? A station at Killamarsh is remote from the housing, Renishaw is basically in the middle of nowhere, and Barrow Hill is a tiny run down village whose economic activity will always be more to Chesterfield than Sheffield. You then recreate a city with 2 unconnected stations, exactly the loss of connectivity you don't need. The only sensible way to serve Stocksbridge is to extend Supertram from Middlewood and for Killamarsh from Halfway, at least that way they will at least serve the housing more closely.

These loony ideas are all noise, with no credibility or recognition of actual local needs, and the money spent on more worthy re-openings or enhancements to existing lines

Well said.

Any extensions to Sheffield's local rail network would generally be done best as extensions of Supertram, including Tram-train where existing rail infrastructure needs to be retained for heavy rail use as well. The services need to be able to penetrate housing estates, and only trams (that can climb gradients) are suitable in this hilly area.

 

[BrianB]

Well said.

Any extensions to Sheffield's local rail network would generally be done best as extensions of Supertram, including Tram-train where existing rail infrastructure needs to be retained for heavy rail use as well. The services need to be able to penetrate housing estates, and only trams (that can climb gradients) are suitable in this hilly area.

well said back

Because they think it'll make reopening Woodhead viable, obviously

which it never will be, unless it serves Sheffield Midland for connectivity, and then there's no need for Victoria anyway....

 

[WestRiding]

All sounds good. Not quite as cheap and simple as it sounds though. The Signalling System only allows 1 train to be on the line between Woodburn Jn and the Steel Terminal. So unless the signalling system is upgraded, Stocksbridge wouldn't have a service between around 6pm and 10pm. Signalling brings expenses, and expenses means it won't happen. So, where do the steel trains fit in, because once we send them onto the Single Line at Woodburn (I'm a Signaller that controls this line) the line is effectively shut while the steel train 6J57 services the Steel Works. It's one engine in steam so to speak, there is no way of locking the steel train into the steel works, for a second train to go up there. The line would be left without a service from around 6pm to 10pm.

 

[Watershed]

All sounds good. Not quite as cheap and simple as it sounds though. The Signalling System only allows 1 train to be on the line between Woodburn Jn and the Steel Terminal. So unless the signalling system is upgraded, Stocksbridge wouldn't have a service between around 6pm and 10pm. Signalling brings expenses, and expenses means it won't happen. So, where do the steel trains fit in, because once we send them onto the Single Line at Woodburn (I'm a Signaller that controls this line) the line is effectively shut while the steel train 6J57 services the Steel Works. It's one engine in steam so to speak, there is no way of locking the steel train into the steel works, for a second train to go up there. The line would be left without a service from around 6pm to 10pm.

If the line receives a passenger service, I think it would undoubtedly need numerous upgrades including to the signalling. Of course, that's part of what will likely undermine the economic case for 'reopening'!

 

[johnnychips]

If the line receives a passenger service, I think it would undoubtedly need numerous upgrades including to the signalling. Of course, that's part of what will likely undermine the economic case for 'reopening'!

Well quite, you are absolutely right. If at the moment the branch is running at an ‘only one train on the track so there can’t be a crash’ basis - I am sure there must be a technical term for this; then a regular service will need a whole new signalling system installed.

And Victoria really is in a dead-end lane. Please don’t knock the area near the Wicker arch. There are some amazing kebab shops there. But they are not in the modern day centre of Sheffield.

 

[fishwomp]

Well quite, you are absolutely right. If at the moment the branch is running at an ‘only one train on the track so there can’t be a crash’ basis - I am sure there must be a technical term for this; then a regular service will need a whole new signalling system installed.

One train in steam is the terminology - not sure if that's official term but is widely used.

An hourly service would be just fine with that arrangement - no new signalling required. Considering Penistone to Victoria used to be 15 minutes, and Stocksbridge would be a minute or two nearer, you could almost do half-hourly on that.

And Victoria really is in a dead-end lane. Please don’t knock the area near the Wicker arch. There are some amazing kebab shops there. But they are not in the modern day centre of Sheffield.

A bridge from Victoria into Midland would be costly but the right solution (A61 got a bridge over the Sheaf, so why not..) - then again the bigger issue is the additional would be Sheffield Midland throat which pretty much needs blasting a couple more running lines through.

 

[WestRiding]

One train in steam is the terminology - not sure if that's official term but is widely used.

An hourly service would be just fine with that arrangement - no new signalling required. Considering Penistone to Victoria used to be 15 minutes, and Stocksbridge would be a minute or two nearer, you could almost do half-hourly on that.

What about the Steel Train. It would render Stocksbridge without a service for realistically, 3 hours. There is no way of locking the Steel Train into the steel works and clearing the block.

This whole scheme, whilst I wish it success and for it to get some serious money, is sadly devised by people who have no idea of Railway Operations and more so Signalling. They think that because there is a railway physically in situ, that trains can just be run willy nilly by that magical signalling system.

The steel works may have other ideas, if the timing of their train, 6J57 and 6J58 fit in with their operation.

If they are not willing to have the train service their plant at 2am or whatever, its a none starter without big signalling alterations.

As for getting the train into Midland (which it wont) but why have a bridge? Just turn it back at Woodburn Jn, its all under main aspect signalling and signalled for passenger trains, if they sit on the single line towards Broughton Lane to do it.

 

[Spartacus]

Clearly comes from the thinking “there’s still a line there so it’ll be simple to put passenger trains on it”, when often that’s nothing like the case as often the line would need relating to passenger standards and speeds, new switches and crossings, trackwork, signalling…. In effect it would often need a new railway.
The big problem with that way of thinking is it narrows people’s views to what are often at best marginal business cases, and they ignore places which would have better cases simply because the line was taken up years ago.
Personally, from an operational point of view of someone who deals with it at work almost daily, what that part of South Yorkshire needs far more is the reinstatement of much of the quadruple lines that have been reduced to double and doubles that have been reduced to singles: even the single line into Tinsley from Rotherham can cause a serious bottleneck with the amount of traffic going in and out. Let’s sort out the current network some before we try and stick more trains/trams onto it which’ll just make things worse.

 

[fishwomp]

What about the Steel Train. It would render Stocksbridge without a service for realistically, 3 hours. There is no way of locking the Steel Train into the steel works and clearing the block.
[.]

If they are not willing to have the train service their plant at 2am or whatever, its a none starter without big signalling alterations.

Considering the Stocksbridge working is about once a week at the moment (it's a Q service) - and at around 7pm, I'd say Stocksbridge could live with a one hour gap in service. Having the working arrive / leave at 2pm seems excessive, it's 15 mins from Woodburn Jct, and surely the passengers would be happy with a 11pm stop..

As for getting the train into Midland (which it wont) but why have a bridge? Just turn it back at Woodburn Jn, its all under main aspect signalling and signalled for passenger trains, if they sit on the single line towards Broughton Lane to do it.

I know - just pointing out that roads and trams seemed to be able to have grand schemes and bridges. I sat in many a 101 as the driver walked to the other end before the closure of Penistone to Deepcar. The bridge isn't essential, that old method could be repeated, although the 101 wouldn't be likely.

[.]
The big problem with that way of thinking is it narrows people’s views to what are often at best marginal business cases, and they ignore places which would have better cases simply because the line was taken up years ago.

Agreed. However, a track and a large remnants of an alignment do make reopening easier, at least getting the land without turfing people out of their homes - such as EWR to Bletchley, say. It turns the mildly infeasible into the feasible, and the stark raving bonkers to just infeasible.

Personally, from an operational point of view of someone who deals with it at work almost daily, what that part of South Yorkshire needs far more is the reinstatement of much of the quadruple lines that have been reduced to double and doubles that have been reduced to singles: even the single line into Tinsley from Rotherham can cause a serious bottleneck with the amount of traffic going in and out. Let’s sort out the current network some before we try and stick more trains/trams onto it which’ll just make things worse.

Totally. It's great to see Tinsley busy again - containers, spoil etc, it's not steel but it's still business.

 

[YorksLad12]

A bridge from Victoria into Midland would be costly but the right solution (A61 got a bridge over the Sheaf, so why not..) - then again the bigger issue is the additional would be Sheffield Midland throat which pretty much needs blasting a couple more running lines through.

I was thinking of tunnel; a bridge would mean you're above Midland. Start to go downwards somewhere around Pilsmoor Road/Rock Street, underneath the left edge of former Victoria, under the Don, Victoria Quays and Park Square to emerge underneath Granville Street and join the existing track which is in a cutting. That would be so expensive as to guarantee that the project never happens

 

[BrianW]

I was thinking of tunnel; a bridge would mean you're above Midland. Start to go downwards somewhere around Pilsmoor Road/Rock Street, underneath the left edge of former Victoria, under the Don, Victoria Quays and Park Square to emerge underneath Granville Street and join the existing track which is in a cutting. That would be so expensive as to guarantee that the project never happens

I think you, and others, may be forgetting this: https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3676/overview
and maybe this: https://members.parliament.uk/region/county/Derbyshire
(The only Derbyshire Labour MPs (2 of 11) represent Chesterfield and Derby South)

 

[fishwomp]

I was thinking of tunnel; [..]. That would be so expensive as to guarantee that the project never happens

Or it's so expensive, it has to happen (HS2, Millennium Dome, Olympics). Once things become a matter of political faith / emotional - it's basically going to happen..

Tunnel has the problem of too many waterways, canal basins, river are both pretty much in that area.

 

[YorksLad12]

Before commenting on this plan, I wish people would look at the topography and population between Stocksbridge and Victoria.
Nobody lives along the route-people live on the slopes above the route.
In Stocksbridge/Deepcar the terminus would be well away from the commercial and population centres.
The bus connections with the Blue tram route actually goes passed where people live, do business and work.

Exactly. Even if you tried something such as tram train you'd spend end up spending a lot of money on a lot of track to go back and forth. SL1 and similar aren't perfect but they go where they need to. Unless the plan was just to run from one end to another with no intermediate stops I can't seeing this happening, whatever the shade of the MPs' rosettes.

 

[Iskra]

Even with the signalling complications (which I actually don’t think are significant) this would still be a relatively easy re-opening to get off the ground.

It’s a political easy win, just like Okehampton.

The successful re-openings we’re seeing at the moment in England are the ones where the track is already there and just platforms need rebuilding.

In its current guise, it’s realistic just to have a DMU or a tram train shuttling back and forth between a simple station at Victoria and Stocksbridge with a couple of intermediate stations. What will torpedo the project is ‘mission creep;’ the suggestions of running through to Penistone, Manchester etc.

With a serious reduction in freight traffic there has never been a better time for this. Otherwise, I fear for the future of the line as it can’t be economic to keep it upto a decent standard for a handful of trains a week.

 

[HST43257]

How about having this as part of a heavy rail suburban semi network, with something like:

2tph Stocksbridge to Chesterfield via Barrow Hill

1tph Dore to Gainsborough Central (2 hourly extensions to each of Barton and Cleethorpes if there is demand)

1tph Dore to Lincoln Central


All of these would call at all stations en route, including many new openings where feasible.

Could call this the Shef-Bahn?

 

[D365]

How about having this as part of a heavy rail suburban semi network, with something like:

2tph Stocksbridge to Chesterfield via Barrow Hill

1tph Dore to Gainsborough Central (2 hourly extensions to each of Barton and Cleethorpes if there is demand)

1tph Dore to Lincoln Central


All of these would call at all stations en route, including many new openings where feasible.

Could call this the Shef-Bahn?

Just the small issue of four tracking needed between Midland and Dore stations!

 

[Railwaysceptic]

. . . . With a serious reduction in freight traffic there has never been a better time for this.

The current issue of Modern Railways (Page 22) says that rail freight has returned to pre-Covid levels.

 

[Iskra]

The current issue of Modern Railways (Page 22) says that rail freight has returned to pre-Covid levels.

I’m not convinced that’s true if you look at this thread:

Deepcar steel train

Hi folks I just wondered if anyone knows if the freight working from Rotherham to Deepcar is still being run?. I think the Steelworks was put up for sale a few months ago so has this affected the running of the train?.

www.railforums.co.uk

And from being on site this week, I’ve only seen one rake of wagons formed up and disappear. The steel works is barely operating at the moment.

 

[Halifaxlad]

In its current guise, it’s realistic just to have a DMU or a tram train shuttling back and forth between a simple station at Victoria and Stocksbridge with a couple of intermediate stations.

I'm surprised no-one has suggested this new 'Very Light Rail' concept ?

As for Stocksbridge, you might as well terminate any potential service at Deepcar considering any closer and you are likely to interfere with the rail operation of the steel works who seem to have a freshly laid runround loop between Stocksbridge and Deepcar.

(Signaling permitting of course)

 

[Iskra]

I'm surprised no-one has suggested this new 'Very Light Rail' concept ?

As for Stocksbridge, you might as well terminate any potential service at Deepcar considering any closer and you are likely to interfere with the rail operation of the steel works who seem to have a freshly laid runround loop between Stocksbridge and Deepcar.

(Signaling permitting of course)

Nah, a station next to the retail park is ideal and this is what influential figures in the area are pushing for.

The line is all freshly relaid over the last 24 months, but is barely used currently.

The steel works is a 24 hour operation, so there’s no reason they can’t use the track solely overnight. They already use it at night.

If it’s a major issue then it’s a simple bit of signalling to install at one end of the line only.

There’s an endless list of potential excuses but none of them are terminal.

The steelworks and the retail park folk have a good working relationship and the steelworks kindly allowed the BLS to run a charter up there a couple of years ago; so clearly obstacles can be overcome when needed.

 

[WestRiding]

Copied from Miriam Cates Facebook page.


*Funding announced for Stocksbridge railway plan*

I'm absolutely delighted that the Chancellor has announced funding for the next stage of my bid to bring passenger trains back to the Stocksbridge line. This is fantastic news for Stocksbridge and the entire Upper Don Valley. Improving transport connectivity is the key to unlocking opportunities for local people and businesses, and our towns and villages have been cut off for far too long.

I submitted a bid to the Government along with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority earlier this year for funding to begin the process of restoring passenger rail services on the existing freight railway between Stocksbridge and Sheffield.

The proposal includes stations at Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Wadsley Bridge, and Neepsend, as well as at Stocksbridge and Sheffield Victoria. It also includes the possibility of onward connections to Rotherham, Worksop, and Chesterfield.

Making use of the existing freight railway to run passenger trains could cut the journey time between Stocksbridge and central Sheffield to just 15 minutes. This would help connect local people to jobs, education, public services, and social events in Sheffield and beyond.

Getting a new passenger service up and running is a complex and lengthy process, with a number of legal steps to go through before work can begin on the railway itself. The money the Chancellor has announced is intended to pay for the necessary professional engineering and environmental studies, as well as to develop the full business case for the line. There will then be public consultations and planning procedures to go through.

Only once these have been completed and the planning applications approved will additional money be unlocked to carry out the necessary work on upgrading the existing railway. This announcement represents the first, but important, step in that process.

I know this project enjoys huge support from the local community, and I would like to thank South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, and the Don Valley Railway group for their work over recent months and years. Restoring this key rail link is an important opportunity for Stocksbridge and the Upper Don Valley, and builds on the transformative £25million of Government investment through the Stocksbridge Town Deal.

This is just one part of my wider plan for public transport improvements across the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency. I'm also working on an upgrade to the Penistone Line (which serves Dodworth, Silkstone Common, and Penistone stations), as well as better buses for our rural villages, a local Stocksbridge bus network, and a new bus service to link Chapeltown and High Green to Meadowhall.

Public transport that works

Miriam Cates MP talks about the importance of having fairly priced access to frequent and reliable public transport and one getting more investment for our region is one of her priorities.

www.miriamcates.org.uk

Photo with the Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister for Railways, at the site of the proposed Stocksbridge station.

 

[Grimsby town]

Its certainly one of the more likely reopenings to happen. Sheffield really is a dump unfortunately but that's a reason for this to happen. Yes the line is in a valley with hilly areas but with decent sized car parks at the stations and the facilities for electric bike storage there is no reason the line can't draw people in from a wider catchment. It will be far quicker than a bus service into Sheffield and unaffected by traffic.

The whole line is surrounded by low density industrial and former industrial land which has the potential to be developed into medium / high density housing to make this a success. While a station at Victoria is never going to reach its glory days, a two platform station similar to Deansgate should be enough to encourage housing and office development within the area. Rapid transit services have facilitated development in areas before. Just look at Salford Quays or Cornbrook in Manchester.

I think key to the success of the line is a station at Nunney Square for interchange to trams / Lincoln services and the service being linked to the Barrow Hill line so there is a direct service to Chesterfield for onward connections to London / East Midlands and West Midlands without having to get to Sheffield Midland.

 

[Iskra]

Copied from Miriam Cates Facebook page.


*Funding announced for Stocksbridge railway plan*

I'm absolutely delighted that the Chancellor has announced funding for the next stage of my bid to bring passenger trains back to the Stocksbridge line. This is fantastic news for Stocksbridge and the entire Upper Don Valley. Improving transport connectivity is the key to unlocking opportunities for local people and businesses, and our towns and villages have been cut off for far too long.

I submitted a bid to the Government along with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority earlier this year for funding to begin the process of restoring passenger rail services on the existing freight railway between Stocksbridge and Sheffield.

The proposal includes stations at Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Wadsley Bridge, and Neepsend, as well as at Stocksbridge and Sheffield Victoria. It also includes the possibility of onward connections to Rotherham, Worksop, and Chesterfield.

Making use of the existing freight railway to run passenger trains could cut the journey time between Stocksbridge and central Sheffield to just 15 minutes. This would help connect local people to jobs, education, public services, and social events in Sheffield and beyond.

Getting a new passenger service up and running is a complex and lengthy process, with a number of legal steps to go through before work can begin on the railway itself. The money the Chancellor has announced is intended to pay for the necessary professional engineering and environmental studies, as well as to develop the full business case for the line. There will then be public consultations and planning procedures to go through.

Only once these have been completed and the planning applications approved will additional money be unlocked to carry out the necessary work on upgrading the existing railway. This announcement represents the first, but important, step in that process.

I know this project enjoys huge support from the local community, and I would like to thank South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, and the Don Valley Railway group for their work over recent months and years. Restoring this key rail link is an important opportunity for Stocksbridge and the Upper Don Valley, and builds on the transformative £25million of Government investment through the Stocksbridge Town Deal.

This is just one part of my wider plan for public transport improvements across the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency. I'm also working on an upgrade to the Penistone Line (which serves Dodworth, Silkstone Common, and Penistone stations), as well as better buses for our rural villages, a local Stocksbridge bus network, and a new bus service to link Chapeltown and High Green to Meadowhall.

Public transport that works

Miriam Cates MP talks about the importance of having fairly priced access to frequent and reliable public transport and one getting more investment for our region is one of her priorities.

www.miriamcates.org.uk

Photo with the Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister for Railways, at the site of the proposed Stocksbridge station.

That’s amazing

Its certainly one of the more likely reopenings to happen. Sheffield really is a dump unfortunately but that's a reason for this to happen. Yes the line is in a valley with hilly areas but with decent sized car parks at the stations and the facilities for electric bike storage there is no reason the line can't draw people in from a wider catchment. It will be far quicker than a bus service into Sheffield and unaffected by traffic.

The whole line is surrounded by low density industrial and former industrial land which has the potential to be developed into medium / high density housing to make this a success. While a station at Victoria is never going to reach its glory days, a two platform station similar to Deansgate should be enough to encourage housing and office development within the area. Rapid transit services have facilitated development in areas before. Just look at Salford Quays or Cornbrook in Manchester.

I think key to the success of the line is a station at Nunney Square for interchange to trams / Lincoln services and the service being linked to the Barrow Hill line so there is a direct service to Chesterfield for onward connections to London / East Midlands and West Midlands without having to get to Sheffield Midland.

I’m not sure why the Sheffield is a dump comment was needed. The Don Valley is pretty green, hence the high house prices and the line is mainly surrounded by trees rather than industrial units. Only the first 2/3 miles are industrial, the majority is woodland or residential: I’ve travelled the line by rail and walked alongside its length on foot.

 

[Grimsby town]

That’s amazing


I’m not sure why the Sheffield is a dump comment was needed. The Don Valley is pretty green, hence the high house prices and the line is mainly surrounded by trees rather than industrial units. Only the first 2/3 miles are industrial, the majority is woodland or residential: I’ve travelled the line by rail and walked alongside its length on foot.

Sorry if I offended you but Sheffield is very undeveloped and waste land in a lot of areas close to the city centre. I'm from Grimsby as my name suggests which is also a dump. It doesn't mean I don't want better for it or appreciate that its not all bad. Sheffield has a lot potential for redevelopment and chances to increase its population significantly in a similar way to what Manchester has done. To do that it needs infrastructure projects like this. I agree some of the line is fairly well sited for current housing developments too and there are areas of greenery but there is industrial land that could be repurposed for housing.

 

[WestRiding]

Sorry if I offended you but Sheffield is very undeveloped and waste land in a lot of areas close to the city centre. I'm from Grimsby as my name suggests which is also a dump. It doesn't mean I don't want better for it or appreciate that its not all bad. Sheffield has a lot potential for redevelopment and chances to increase its population significantly in a similar way to what Manchester has done. To do that it needs infrastructure projects like this. I agree some of the line is fairly well sited for current housing developments too and there are areas of greenery but there is industrial land that could be repurposed for housing.

Got to agree, its a bit dumpy. Sheffield should be ashamed for what has become of the area around Fitzallan Square upto Cathedral. And god help anyone who wants to get off at a future Victoria.... Rough or what. Especially after dark.

 

[Halifaxlad]

Nah, a station next to the retail park is ideal and this is what influential figures in the area are pushing for.

The line is all freshly relaid over the last 24 months, but is barely used currently.

The steel works is a 24 hour operation, so there’s no reason they can’t use the track solely overnight. They already use it at night.

If it’s a major issue then it’s a simple bit of signalling to install at one end of the line only.

There’s an endless list of potential excuses but none of them are terminal.

The steelworks and the retail park folk have a good working relationship and the steelworks kindly allowed the BLS to run a charter up there a couple of years ago; so clearly obstacles can be overcome when needed.

Doing that would be to restrict the rail operations of the steel works, no-one is going to like that idea!

I also don't think making requests to a signalman for everytime they want to do a shunt and then having to wait for a passenger service to get out of the way will go down well either.

Regarding charters, there is a big difference between a single charter and a regular service.

 

[Iskra]

Doing that would be to restrict the rail operations of the steel works, no-one is going to like that idea!

I also don't think making requests to a signalman for everytime they want to do a shunt and then having to wait for a passenger service to get out of the way will go down well either.

Regarding charters, there is a big difference between a single charter and a regular service.

They are barely using it currently though, and would still have the option of doing it at any time overnight or perhaps off-peak.

There is, but it shows things are possible if the will is there.

When the railtour ran, the Steelworks shunter ran out to sit next to our charter for a photo op, so barriers can definitely be overcome when people want...

 

[Chester1]

That’s amazing

There are two red lights. 1) The proposed stations just happen to be reopenings + Stocksbridge. 2) There is no reference to an interchange with the tram network. I see a politician playing the nostalgia card. I hope the line is reopened in some form but an interchange with existing passenger train services and the tram network would be absolutely essential to make a reopening successful. Terminating at Victoria would be very inadequate, make the line a failure and make other reopenings harder.

A Crayonista approach would be Stocksbridge to Chesterfield via Barrow Hill, reopening two freight lines to passengers in one go. Nunnery Square would be the obvious location for an interchange with the trams.

 

[D365]

A Crayonista approach would be Stocksbridge to Chesterfield via Barrow Hill, reopening two freight lines to passengers in one go. Nunnery Square would be the obvious location for an interchange with the trams.

I thought that Nunnery was always planned for at least one of the two passenger reopenings that you describe.