Proposal to restore railway lines could see up to five new stations built

TWO projects to reopen Derbyshire railway lines that could result in up to five new stations being built are gaining momentum.

Outline business cases will be submitted to bring back a route between Chesterfield and Sheffield, as well as reviving a line from Burtonon-Trent to Leicester.

Early-stage development funding has been provided as part of the

Government’s £500m Restoring Your Railway programme to reinstate closed local rail services. Working with Derbyshire County Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, funding is being provided to Network Rail to develop the business case to reopen the freight-only Barrow Hill line between Chesterfield and Sheffield to passenger services.

If the outline project gets the green light at the next stage, it will signal the start of work to reintroduce passenger trains on the line and build up to four new stations in Derbyshire at Whittington, Staveley Barrow Hill, Eckington/Renishaw and Killamarsh.

A new station could also be on the cards for Castle Gresley now proposals to reopen the Ivanhoe Rail line from Burton-on-Trent to

Leicester are being progressed, with funding provided to Network Rail.

The county council has supported the application led by the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line group and Leicestershire County Council.

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and environment, said: “Significant new employment and housing development is already planned along the Barrow Hill Line route with long-overdue investment in this part of Derbyshire kick-started by the Staveley Town Deal.

“Reopening both lines would build on this momentum, making it easier for people to travel to work, education and healthcare, cutting congestion, improving air quality and promoting greener travel.”