Projects/Future Developments

There are a number of projects which are going to affect the services in and around Dore and Totley station.  This page provides a short summary of each initiative, how it may affect the station, facilities or services and the current status.  Obviously plans can change and some of the projects may progress while others may be cancelled.  The dates are the latest published dates although these may change as the projects progress.

The projects are:-

• Operator Franchises
• Hope Valley Capacity Scheme
• Northern Power House initiatives
• HS2 scheme
• Midland Main Line electrification
• Sheffield Plan to 2035

  ---

  
  

Operator Franchises

Project Overview

Although the Northern and TP Express franchises started in April 2016 many of the planned improvements are due to be introduced in the coming years up to 2020.

The changes included in the new franchises include:-

• New and or refurbished trains
• Pacer Trains (these are the ones used on the Northern service between Sheffield and Manchester) are to be replaced
• Improved Seating, Tables, Toilets, Information Screens, Free OnBoard Wifi and at seat power sockets
• New timetable in December 2017
• Increased Services
• Various new ticketing, fares and facilities
• Improve Capacity and Quality
• New station maintenance contracts
• Improved journey times

The Liverpool to Norwich franchise is run by East Midlands Railways who also run the Sheffield to London St Pancras line alongside a number of other lines.  The current franchise agreement started in August 2019.  The Liverpool to Norwich line is likely to be transferred to a new operator in late 2019 or early 2020.

At D&T station you may also notice Cross Country trains.  This operator runs services from the North East e.g. Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh through Sheffield along the Midland Mainline to Chesterfield to Derby, Birmingham and onto the South coast, South West and South Wales.

Current Status

The TP Express franchise has started and some of the promised improvements have been delivered although some have been delayed and will not be delivered until later in 2020.  The TP Express franchise runs until 2023.

The Northern franchise was planned to run until 2025.  This has been terminated early on the 29th Feb 2020 by the Government due to the poor performance of the operator.  From the 1st March 2020 the franchise will be run by the “Operator of Last Resort”  which is controlled by the Government.  In the first 100 days they will produce an improvement plan.  BBC report

The East Midlands Franchise started in August 2019.

The current Cross Country franchise has been extended until 9th November 2019.  The new franchise process is expected to start in 2018 with the new franchise starting operation in November 2019.

Further Information

The franchise page provides a summary of the improvements which have been promised in the current franchises, together with links to the operator for additional information.

Public register of rail passenger contracts provides the latest information on all the franchises of all the rail operating companies.

Rail Franchises provides links to the latest franchise agreements. These are large documents, many several volumes and typically 500 pages long.

The Rail Operators have produced summaries of there franchise promises.  Here are the relevant links:-

• Northern Customer Report
• Northern Powerpoint Presentation
• Northern Update Nov 2016
• TP Express
• East Midlands Trains

  ---

Hope Valley Capacity Scheme

Project Overview

The Hope Valley Capacity Scheme is part of the Northern Power House initiatives.  We have highlighted it here as it will directly affect D&T station.

The main benefits of the scheme are to :-

• increase the number of fast trains from 2 to 3 per hour
• increase the stopping trains from 1 every 2 hours to 1 per hour
• to provide for 3 freight trains every two hours as at present
• greater number of seats thus reducing the over crowding on the trains
• allow trains of up to 6 cars to use the route
• accommodate longer freight trains
• improve reliability on the route

Current Status

A Public Enquiry was held in May 2016.  The inspector produced a report which was sent to the Department for Transport in Nov 2016. The DfT produced a decision letter in Feb 2018 approving the scheme with a few caveats.

Plans are now awaited from Network Rail on when the development will be undertaken.
 

Further Information

HV Capacity page has further information on the scheme and links to the relevant information, including the inspectors report and the decision letter..

Network Rail have now removed the information which they provided on the scheme.

Persona maintained all the information about the inquiry and made it available on their website.  They have now removed the information about the Hope Valley Capacity scheme  Public Inquiry although many of the documents provided to the inquiry are still on the system.

Northern Power House Initiatives

Project Overview

Northern Powerhouse aim is to transform the Northern growth, rebalance the country’s economy and establish the North as a global powerhouse.  Transport is a fundamental part of these goals. A world class transport system linking the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull as well as the counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley is envisaged.

The powerhouse is concerned with a number of areas including both rail and road connections.  Here we will concentrate on the rail aspects, further information below will provide links to some of the road policies.

On the rail network they want to radically improve journey times and frequencies between the major cities through major investment in rail infrastructure.  The journey times most Dore users will be interested in are the times from Sheffield and Manchester.  The table below summaries the present fastest time and the Transport for the North(TfN) aspirational time.

The strategy also looks at improving the train service offering, including new and more comfortable trains, greater reliability, extra seats, mobile digital connectivity etc.

It also links into the work being done by other projects e.g. HS2 project to link London and the West Midlands to Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester.  See the HS2 info on this page for further information.

Current Status

There are a number of projects and developments which are aiming to improve the services between the cities above. Network Rail have grouped the projects into five main areas.  These are:-

• Manchester Airport to Leeds and Liverpool.
• Liverpool, to Doncaster which includes the Sheffield to Manchester line that runs through Dore and Totley.
• Manchester to Blackpool.
• Leeds to Liverpool and Chester.
• Bradford to Manchester Airport and Liverpool.

These areas which directly affect the D&T station users:-

• Northern and Trans Pennine Express franchises.  These include many of the train service offering improvements mentioned above.
• New East Midlands franchise in 2019.
• Hope Valley Capacity Scheme will improve the journey times, frequency and reliability of the service between Sheffield and Manchester.

Further Information

A report on the Northern Transport Strategy for the Powerhouse.

Information on the Franchises.

Information on the Hope Valley Capacity Scheme.

HS2 scheme

Project Overview

Phase 1 will provide a high speed train from London to the West Midlands (just north of Birmingham). In London it will connect to Crossrail and Great Western Mainline at a new interchange station at Old Oak Common in West London and also have a route to Euston station.  In the West Midlands there will be stations at Curzon Street and an Interchange station called Birmingham Interchange.  An interactive map of the route is available.

Phase Two forms a ‘Y’ shape from the West Midlands up towards Manchester and the North West with proposed stations at Crewe, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly; and up towards Leeds and the North East with proposed stations in Leeds, the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.  There are technical problems with the land around Meadowhall and alternative routes were investigated in 2016 and confirmed in July 2017, see below.  A map of the proposed route.

There will be links to the West Coast Mainline at Crewe and Golborne.

There will also be a link to the East Coast Main Line near York.

HS2 will be developed by HS2 Limited which is a separate company from Network Rail.  Network Rail maintains and develops most of the rail infrastructure in the country.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Route Decision

In July 2017 the DfT announced that they had decided on the route of HS2 through Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.  They have decided on the “High Speed Rail with link to classic compatible service to Chesterfield and Sheffield Midland station”
The proposed route itself would see a southern spur off the main high speed line east of Stonebroom to provide a dedicated link towards the existing Midland Main Line at Clay Cross, enabling high speed trains from London to serve Sheffield city centre and Chesterfield.

The main HS2 route would run to the west of Bolsover, then north on a 490m long viaduct over the M1, before continuing to the west of the M1 in the existing transport corridor and passing to the west of Barlborough, east of Killamarsh, Norwood and Wales. Passing Aston the route would rise towards the M1 / M18 interchange, crossing the A57 on viaduct. The route would then run adjacent to the M18 immediately west of Bramley in cutting and then descends into the valley across the River Dearne, passing between Conisbrough and Mexborough. It then heads north, running east of Barnburgh and Hickleton and between Thurnscoe and South Kirby. Approaching Crofton from the south east, it would cross the A638 on a 300m long viaduct.

 HS2 trains from Sheffield would travel north past Wincobank and rejoin the HS2 line at South Kirby for journeys to Leeds and beyond.  It is expected that the journey time between Sheffield and Leeds will be 30 mins in line with the Northern Powerhouse aspirations.

There is to be an investigation into a parkway station on the main HS2 line to serve South Yorkshire.

This decision was made following consultation on a number of options which are described in the sections below.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire alternative routes

In July 2016 a report was produced looking at alternative options to the Meadowhall route which were:-

• a high speed rail station via Meadowhall, the original plan proposed in 2013.
• a high speed rail station via Sheffield Midland.
• a high speed rail station via Sheffield Victoria.
• a classic-compatible spur serving Sheffield Midland station.

Original Plan with station at Meadowhall
The Meadowhall route would approach from the South, running along the Rother Valley, past the Country Park, bear north west, re-join the M1 corridor in the Orgreave area.  It would run on a 4km viaduct alongside the M1 between Sheffield and Rotherham, to a station at Meadowhall.  North of the station the route would continue on the M1 corridor, diverging from the M1 in the Chapeltown area and head north to the east of Barnsley.

High Speed Rail via Sheffield Midland station
Sheffield Midland high speed station option would leave the planned route at Bolsover and head north west towards Sheffield, running through a series of tunnels.  The HS2 station would be east of the current station and be partly inside Park hill below ground level.  The report does not think that this is a viable alternative.

High Speed Rail via Sheffield Victoria station
Sheffield Victoria high speed station would be approached from the east, following the existing rail corridor.  The station would lie to the northeast of the city centre, on the north side of the dual-carriageway A61 inner ring road (Derek Dooley Way) and over the River Don and Sheffield Tinsley Canal. The station was situated on an elevated structure on a 12m high viaduct.  North of Sheffield Victoria Station the route would enter a tunnel, re-emerging to join the consultation alignment in the Chapeltown area.

High Speed Rail with link to classic compatible service to Chesterfield and Sheffield Midland station
Sheffield Midland via classic compatible service.  Two routes have been considered.  The first via Erewash Valley line and the second via the Worksop line.
The Erewash Valley option would require a grade-separated junction from HS2 near the junction of the M1 and A38 and a 6.6km spur to the Erewash Valley line.  There is a 6km run along the Erewash Valley line before it joins the Midland Mainline and then runs along the Midland Mainline into Sheffield via Dore, with stations at Chesterfield and Sheffield.  Trains could travel north to serve stations at Meadowhall, Rotherham or Barnsley.  Trains would travel north past Wincobank and rejoin the HS2 line at South Kirby for journeys to Leeds and beyond.  There is to be an investigation into a parkway station on the main HS2 line to serve South Yorkshire.

Maps of all the options are in the Sheffield and South Yorkshire reports.

Overview of the four options are below.

Current Status

A decision on the route in South Yorkshire was made in July 2017 as identified above i.e. HS2 passes through South Yorkshire with a spur into Sheffield and Chesterfield.  An update

The outline plan for HS2 is:-

• Phase 1 London Euston to North Of Birmingham
• Operational 2026
• Phase 2a Fradley to Crewe
• Hybrid Bill development 2016-2017
• Hybrid Bill Phase 2017-2019
• Finalising Design and Construction Phase 2019-2025
• Commissioning and Testing 2025-2027
• Operational phase 2027 onwards
• Phase 2b Crewe to Manchester and West Midlands to Leeds
• Strategic Outline Business Case and proposed route 2016.
• Response to consultation, refined strategic Outline Business Case 2017. Completed
• Decision on the full route following consultation in summer 2017. Completed
• Hybrid Bill Phase 2018-2022
• Construction and Testing Phase 2023-2033
• Commissioning and Testing 2032-2033
• Operational phase 2033 onwards.  Phase 2b opens by the end of 2033

Further Information

When accessing these documents please ensure that you access the latest version.  These are dated July 2017.  Earlier versions in 2013 and November 2016 are available in case people want to review the changes which have been made over the development of the plans.    Information about the proposals are available on the HS2 website. 

A further review was held by Douglas Oakervee in 3Q 2019 and a review produced.  The government have made the decision to proceed with HS2.

Chris Graylings speech to the House of Commons - July 2017

HS2 Phase 2b Route Decision - July 2017.  Information on the HS2 route but not on the spur to Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Phase 1 and 2 maps and documents provides the HS2 news and various links. Updated July 2017

Sheffield and South Yorkshire reports contain the details of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire route options. Nov 2016

Route Refinement Consultation provides details of various options which were considered. Nov 2016

HS2 given go ahead in 2020 after further review.

Oakervee Review

Midland Main Line electrification

Project Overview

Plans to electrify the line between London and Sheffield on the Midland Mainline(MML) were cancelled in July 2017.  Work will carry on electrifying the line between London and Kettering but the project will not proceed any further north.

Improvements in the service have been promised from 2020 when the new Franchise arrangements will be in place.

Bi model trains will be introduced in 2022 to improve the service between Sheffield and London along the MML.

Current Status

The project will be completed in stages.  These are the current Network Rail plans:-

• Midland Main Line (MML) electrification between London St Pancras and Kettering and between Kettering and Corby will be completed by December 2019
• bi mode (electric and other fuel) engines will run on the line from 2022

Further Information

Chris Graylings written report to the House of Commons on the cancellation of the electrification of the Midland Mainline between Kettering, Sheffield and Nottingham July 2017

Daily Telegraph report on the abandonment of the electrification of three lines including the London to Sheffield (Midland Mainline) July 2017

Sheffield Plan to 2035

Project Overview

The Sheffield Plan was produced by the City Council. The reports states it purpose to be:-

• It is the first stage in preparing our new Sheffield Plan to guide development in the city. The Sheffield Plan will be adopted in 2018 and will last until 2034.
• It is not a draft plan and is not a statement of Council policy but is about giving people in Sheffield the opportunity to give their views on options for the nature and scale of growth in their areas over a 15-20 year period.
• It sets out the challenges and opportunities for Sheffield, and proposes a Vision for what our city will be like in 2034.
• It explains how many new homes and jobs we need to plan for, and gives a range of options for how and where they could be located.
• It gives you the opportunity to tell us what you think about these options, and about the future Plan for our city.

One area which could affect the area around the station is on page 74 of the plan where it mentions an Expanded Park and Ride at Dore railway station.  The map suggests this may be the area of land between the three lines i.e. between the Hope Valley line and Midland Mainline which divide at the station and the single track which links the Hope Valley line with the Midland Mainline to the west of D&T station.

Current Status

Comments have been received on the CityWide consultation.  A consultation report on the Sheffield plan is expected in autumn 2016 and a draft plan will be produced for further consultation.  The plan is expected to be adopted in 2018.

Further Information

Sheffield Plan Information provides all the documents which have been consulted on and the next steps in the planning process.