Churnet Valley Railway might get main line link

LEEK could once again have a main line link thanks to a £50,000 feasibility study award in the third round of the Department for Transport's Restoring Your Railway Fund – and the Churnet Valley Railway would play a major part.

Passenger services between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek ended in 1956, with the town's station closing completely in 1970. Demolished, its site is now occupied by Morrisons supermarket. Freight services continued to use part of the line until 1989, running to the Caldon Low quarries on the branch from Leekbrook Junction, after which the line was mothballed.

The CVR is now busy pushing north into Leek and aims to build a terminus on a new site. It now also runs over the Caldon Low branch to Ipstones, and controls a short stub of the mothballed line from Leekbrook Junction to Stoke.

‘Last chance’?

Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley, who sponsored the Restoring Your Railway bid by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, argues that reopening the line to the city would relieve road congestion and boost the economy.

The plan is to have intermediate stops at Endon, Bucknall, Milton, Birches Head/Abbey Hulton and Fenton Manor.

Mrs Bradley, who will chair a delivery board that will commission a study into the reopening options, said she was delighted by the award.

She added that it was probably the last opportunity available to revive the line.

The Churnet Valley Railway has taken delivery of a fourth coach for use on its future services to Leek. CK No. 15663 will await its turn for restoration alongside Nos. S4046, E3809 and M4366. The railway aims to have two rakes of Mk.1s for future services and has the opportunity to buy two more coaches, but needs another £7500. Anyone who would like to donate to the scheme is invited to visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/cvr_coaches CVR