Rambler’s despair at cuts to Peak District rail services
TRAINS TO MATLOCK ARE NO LONGER STOPPING AT STATIONS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DURING THE WEEK
A DAD who enjoys taking his young son to visit the Peak District by rail says his family has been left “absolutely gutted” after services from Nottingham to Matlock were reduced.
Matt Turpin and his four-yearold son previously made us of an hourly service which included Saturdays, but say it’s now more complicated to explore the Derbyshire countryside by rail.
East Midlands Railway has now introduced changes which mean that, during the week, services will run between Matlock and Derby and no longer call at Spondon, Long Eaton, Attenborough, Beeston and Nottingham.
And on a Saturday, services now largely only run from Derby and Matlock.
Mr Turpin, who doesn’t drive, said the spontaneity of jumping on a train at Beeston and going for walks in Derbyshire had been lost.
The 47-year-old, of Beeston Rylands, said: “It’s possible to get somewhere but it’s just that extra complication of having to change at Derby and lack of convenience to have to change there rather than just jump on a train at short notice.
“The fact there are no through trains any more, it annoys me.”
Mr Turpin, who works in communications, used to enjoy getting the train on a Saturday or Thursday. He and his son Leif, who likes to walk in the countryside, relished getting out and about.
Mr Turpin said: “It opens up the whole of that area of Derbyshire which is a wonderful thing if you want to get your kids out as I do.
“I have a child and like him to get a breath of fresh air and have a walk and stuff.
“And that was ideal; it was cheap, it was convenient, it was regular and it’s gone. He loved it, he’s absolutely gutted.
“The more variables you put into these things, the less incentive for us to do it as it were.
“So it’s become a lot, lot harder from the ease of jumping on a train - one an hour - and just heading across into the Peaks. We’re very disappointed.”
Sometimes Mr Turpin’s wife, Ellie, would join them on their adventures.
Mr Turpin added: “There are all these great places to go, like Cromford, Black Rocks, Matlock Bath, and the Heights of Abraham.
“And especially during the easing of lockdown when there weren’t many things open, but you were allowed to travel, we could get out in the countryside and get some fresh air.”
The changes follow a timetable introduced last month which hadn’t performed as well as the railway company expected.
Sunday services will remain unaffected on the Nottingham to Matlock line - though strike action may affect journeys.
An East Midlands Railway spokesman said: “Last month we introduced a new timetable.
“In recent weeks it has become clear it is not performing as well as we, or our customers, expect.
“Due to the ongoing impact of Covid, staff absences and the late delivery of trains, it has led to short notice cancellations and difficult journeys.
“We are very sorry for the disruption and inconvenience caused to our customers during this time.
“We are acting swiftly to implement changes which will improve performance and provide a reliable experience across our network.
“As a result, from Saturday June 19, we have temporarily reduced our regional timetable.
“This change will allow us to protect our most used services, such as summer services to Skegness, and allow us to fix the underlying problems so we can reintroduce the full timetable.
“Amended timetables are now available online and we ask customers to check their journey on our website before setting off.”