Hope Valley Capacity Scheme, Transport and Works Order approved

[1978 14]

This will permit Network Rail to commence redoubling of the track and platform at Dore & Totley, plus construction of passing loops at Dore & Bamford to permit 3 fast trains an hour, plus one stopping train an hour between Sheffield and Manchester.

 

They have 5 years to get started! 15 pages from the DfT and 150 from the Inspector. See; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/network-rail-hope-valley-capacity-order

 

In the meantime Northern were hoping to squeeze through an hourly train between Sheffield and Manchester from the May timetable changes. All wouldn't stop at all stations due to conflict wth freight trains. There have never been 3 trains an hour between Sheffield and Manchester in the past so that would be a modest step forward.

 

Unfortunately delays with Network Rail's electrification work in the North-West means the diesel units due to be displaced by electric may not be available to come this way until the autumn. We may have to wait until December for them on the Hope Valley line. It's possible Northern may be getting other units that may still make it possible, but we won't know until early March. Those Network Rail construction delays may not auger well for progress with the Hope Valley construction work.

[darylslinn 10]

Northern have already started bringing in Class 150 units from GWR..... looks like we are playing second fiddle again with rolling stock.

[1978 14]

Northern have already started bringing in Class 150 units from GWR..... looks like we are playing second fiddle again with rolling stock.

 

They're only a couple of years older than the Pacers, but they're to be refurbished to be as good as new and should last another 10 years. Better any train than no train? But first we need to get tracks to run them on.

[Annie Bynnol 612]

This will permit Network Rail to commence redoubling of the track and platform at Dore & Totley, plus construction of passing loops at Dore & Bamford to permit 3 fast trains an hour, plus one stopping train an hour between Sheffield and Manchester.

 

They have 5 years to get started! 15 pages from the DfT and 150 from the Inspector. See; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/network-rail-hope-valley-capacity-order

 

In the meantime Northern were hoping to squeeze through an hourly train between Sheffield and Manchester from the May timetable changes. All wouldn't stop at all stations due to conflict wth freight trains. There have never been 3 trains an hour between Sheffield and Manchester in the past so that would be a modest step forward.

 

Unfortunately delays with Network Rail's electrification work in the North-West means the diesel units due to be displaced by electric may not be available to come this way until the autumn. We may have to wait until December for them on the Hope Valley line. It's possible Northern may be getting other units that may still make it possible, but we won't know until early March. Those Network Rail construction delays may not auger well for progress with the Hope Valley construction work.

 

There is no increase in the number of trains from Sheffield to Manchester that will be of any use to travellers between the two cities.

 

They are timed to depart Sheffield three minutes after the express and take up to twenty minutes longer.

 

These slow stopping trains are not better than nothing as they will prevent the one-stop Sheffield-Manchester from being speeded up. It also allows the Government to say they have increased capacity on the Manchester Sheffield route when people will still be standing (for me- 7 of 12 journeys since Christmas).

 

The extra 4 daytime trains a day are slow trains via New Mills Central. These extra services have the lowest loading on the route and will not attract passengers off the expresses. No reservations/no advance tickets/no first class/no cup of tea/ancient 4 wheeled Pacers.

[1978 14]

Overcrowding on TransPennine Express trains should be eased by the end of the year when all between Manchester and Sheffield or Doncaster are due to become 6 coaches.

 

East Midlands are more of a problem because they seem to have difficulty adding more coaches to their fleet. Added to the length of the journey from Norwich to Liverpool it leaves a lower margin for when anything goes wrong. A late running train will distort the loading and exacerbate the problem. When it gets very late it can be diverted round the Dore curve to miss out Sheffield altogether. It's quite likely the route will be split and Liverpool-Sheffield or Nottingham passed to TPE when the franchise is relet.

 

Of course the East Midlands refranchising originally assumed the Hope Valley scheme would be completed by December 2018. It's now going to be 2020 at the very earliest, probably later if it sees the usual delays on Network Rail schemes.

 

In the outline timetable from May Northern were hoping to provide an hourly Hope Valley service with Class 150 or better. Thanks to delays with electrification that may be delayed, or we may have Pacers on the service until autumn. Whatever, when there is any major delay with the fast services these trains get heavily over crowded. In and out of Manchester they are crowded at commuting times, and probably would be if there were more into Sheffield in the mornings from the Hope Valley and Dore.

 

Unfortunately the work just confirmed does nothing to ease other bottlenecks on the line. 3 long tunnels, straight sections but restricted to 60 mph. 19th century signalling, congestion from Stockport in and around Manchester and at both ends of the routes into Sheffield. The delayed plans to add extra through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly are the next priority to get a more frequent and reliable service between the two cities.

[OliviaLouise 10]

The railway line between Sheffield and Manchester is to be upgraded, cutting journey times by 10 minutes.

[kevvy 12]

Probably never happen.. This is the North you know..

[Anna B 1,401]

Good idea. Let's hope it's done sooner rather than later. Probably take them until 2030 to do it, if at all.

 

---------- Post added 15-02-2018 at 11:55 ----------

 

There's another thread in Sheffield News section with a bit more detail; 'Hope Valley Capacity scheme.' Is this about the same line?

Edited February 15, 2018 by Anna B

[RJRB 688]

My priority would be a road upgrade to cut an hour off the journey time.

[Guest makapaka]

It's not just the journey time - there will also be more trains - 3 an hour I believe.

[BigAl1 143]

Well a start but still not exactly fast - having said that it is quite a nice ride across and the extra train will be most welcome

 

But will it happen?

[Fogey 10]

My prediction is funding will be cut and it will all be cancelled just before another extension to the London Underground or massive refurb of a London train station is announced.