themiller
Member
I don’t know if readers are aware of it but there’s an app giving official info for this project. It’s a Network Rail & Volker initiative. Search ‘Hope Valley Railway Upgrade’ for Apple and Android.
I don’t know if readers are aware of it but there’s an app giving official info for this project. It’s a Network Rail & Volker initiative. Search ‘Hope Valley Railway Upgrade’ for Apple and Android.
Sorry, missed that post due to being beyond the reach of t’interweb that day.See foot of post 1044 for links.
On a technicality, its not a loop. It is an extension of the Dore South Curve, and cannot be used to loop trains from Sheffield before the slog up the Valley. It will however be useful for holding long trains waiting a path either West or South. As for the new loop at Bamford, and as a Signaller, it's a stupid idea. Putting a 2000ton freight, in a loop, at the start of the grade upto Grindleford, what could possibly go wrong. Better to keep the freight rolling than from a standing start.This is where the new Dore loop will cut off the Hope Valley line just north of West View Lane, running parallel with the existing tracks below Poynton Wood on the right. At the site of the current Dore West Junction it will take that route through short Dore Tunnel to the MML. Trees now cleared, watch this space.
View attachment 115046
Well, we'd all like to keep freights rolling but what happens when you need to regulate a freight in the Sheffield station direction (currently no real opportunity) or, for southbound services, single track Dore South Curve (however long) is currently hosting a train in the opposite direction?On a technicality, its not a loop. It is an extension of the Dore South Curve, and cannot be used to loop trains from Sheffield before the slog up the Valley. It will however be useful for holding long trains waiting a path either West or South. As for the new loop at Bamford, and as a Signaller, it's a stupid idea. Putting a 2000ton freight, in a loop, at the start of the grade upto Grindleford, what could possibly go wrong. Better to keep the freight rolling than from a standing start.
If its heading towards Sheffield and needs regulation, we hold at S79 or 81 and work around it as necessary like we always have.Well, we'd all like to keep freights rolling but what happens when you need to regulate a freight in the Sheffield station direction (currently no real opportunity) or, for southbound services, single track Dore South Curve (however long) is currently hosting a train in the opposite direction?
Genuine question: What's the maximum length that can be held clear at those two? Cheers.If its heading towards Sheffield and needs regulation, we hold at S79 or 81 and work around it as necessary like we always have.
Not sure of exact length but certainly anything booked through Sheffield freight wise fits with room to spare.Genuine question: What's the maximum length that can be held clear at those two? Cheers.
Not sure of exact length but certainly anything booked through Sheffield freight wise fits with room to spare.
Thank you, folks. That's a bit more than I had thought.Roughly 580m by my calculations. There's not much freight that's longer than that, at least not in that part of the network.
YesSo will there be a facing crossover on the Sheffield line, just outside the tunnel, so trains to Dore South Jcn. can access the loop?
It has been reported on Gensheet by an esteemed member of the BLS that engineering work is due to start weekend June 18th (minimum 4 weeks- not sure if that's 4 solid weeks or just weekends), with trains turning back towards Manchester at Hope with a pilotman to Earles siding crossover. Edit: this is for the local stopping services only?
Heeley loop standage is to be increased by signalling changes to 640 metres. Bamford loop is to be 640 metres. Dore loop (or chord) is shorter at 500 metres. It was intended to be 640 but the extra work for that extra 100 metres involved major bridge rebuilding at West View Lane and likely massive resistance by residents in the flats very close to the line (the cost killed it before it got any further but it remains a possibility in the future). I have more accurate details but not readily to hand so apologies if my lengths may be slightly out on standages.Not sure of exact length but certainly anything booked through Sheffield freight wise fits with room to spare.
Ground-breaking work on a £145m rail reliability upgrade between Manchester and Sheffield will start later this month.
This essential work will remove several 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.
On Sunday 29 May, and every weekend throughout July, Dore & Totley, Grindleford, Bamford and Hathersage stations will be closed 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:
Dore & 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.
- 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
Hi @Killingworth - What does "Part Closure" mean please? I was planning on getting off at Dore in early June. is that Rail Replacement Buses too as the timetable appears to show normal running.Yes
See my post1048 for blockades until end July. These are to cover multiple tasks particularly laying and connecting the new track though Dore station. That should be in place by August.
Fast TPE services (any running) will divert via Huddersfield. EMR will have bus substitute services, probably to Stockport. Northern will be bus from Sheffield to Chinley although minibus from Edale to Hope. Stopping trains from Manchester will run to Edale, crossover at Earles and return. I understand running in service to Hope would complicate engineering possessions but would be more practical for passengers (NB there is no step free access to platforms at Chinley or the eastbound platform at Hope).
Heeley loop standage is to be increased by signalling changes to 640 metres. Bamford loop is to be 640 metres. Dore loop (or chord) is shorter at 500 metres. It was intended to be 640 but the extra work for that extra 100 metres involved major bridge rebuilding at West View Lane and likely massive resistance by residents in the flats very close to the line (the cost killed it before it got any further but it remains a possibility in the future). I have more accurate details but not readily to hand so apologies if my lengths may be slightly out on standages.
Despite some inaccurate or misleading media headlines Dore will be fully open during June, albeit with some adjustments to late night trains from Chinley into Manchester. This one is perhaps typical - headline and article differ; https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/tran...s0ZrXk66lXRU2yzlVSOSAybWkkhBM82Z45snMANXPugBEHi @Killingworth - What does "Part Closure" mean please? I was planning on getting off at Dore in early June. is that Rail Replacement Buses too as the timetable appears to show normal running.
Closer to Hope than Bamford. See below tooThe signalling control break will be moving to Bamford, just east of Earles Sidings
15mph currently, 20mph after completion of worksIt's a tight curve with speed restricted to about 10 mph
York ROC (Sheffield outer workstation) will be controlling from Earles Sidings eastwards. The limit of resignalling is just before signal ES3 which means semaphore signalling will remain on the line. Approximately located hereAre Manchester ROC controlling small bits of the Hope Valley. I thought it was all still small boxes or is this after the works?
Work began today in preparation for redoubling the track and restoring the second platform at Dore and also to construct the new Dore loop. A long way to go until trains can use the new tracks, but hopefully by late 2023.
View attachment 115402 View attachment 115403
Yes, Dore was once four platforms with an island platform between the Up Hope Valley and Down Midland Mainline as seen here:In the top image, had there used to be a platform between the tracks at that location going by the great width between them?
In the top image, had there used to be a platform between the tracks at that location going by the great width between them?
The top image is taken from the Sheffield end of the one remaining platform, the very left edge of the historic photo, so the area in shot never had a platform but did have more tracks in the past (and will again). The other platforms would have been to the right of and behind the camera.Yes, Dore was once four platforms with an island platform between the Up Hope Valley and Down Midland Mainline as seen here:
https://flic.kr/p/YZCN7b (not my picture)
My shot from Sunday was from the end of the current 4 car platform, the signal is at the end of the original 6 car platform - possibly the same signal seen in my second picture below.The top image is taken from the Sheffield end of the one remaining platform, the very left edge of the historic photo, so the area in shot never had a platform but did have more tracks in the past (and will again). The other platforms would have been to the right of and behind the camera.
Also no Southbound trains will serve Chesterfield in any July weekend.For those weekends, it looks like a few diversions:
Transpennine are running Sheffield-Huddersfield-Manchester services (via Moorthorpe/Hare Park/Wakefield Kirkgate but not calling there), and abandoning the Sheffield-Doncaster section
e.g.
Realtime Trains | 1B80 1419 Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes | 03/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 1B80 1419 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes on 03/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
and Crosscountry via the old road, e.g.
Realtime Trains | 1V62 1205 Edinburgh to Bristol Temple Meads | 03/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 1V62 1205 departure from Edinburgh to Bristol Temple Meads on 03/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
but EM buses to Chesterfield and Derby, e.g.
Realtime Trains | 0B00 1420 Derby to Sheffield | 02/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 0B00 1420 departure from Derby to Sheffield on 02/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk