Hope Valley Capacity Scheme(HVCS)

Work has started on the Hope Valley Capacity Scheme renamed Hope Valley Railway upgrade.

The work is planned to be undertaken during the 2022-2023 period.  Regular updates are being provided by the contractors Volker Rail Story JV.

A Digital Notice board has been installed at the station providing information about the project and its current progress. It is attached to the wall facing the platform of Rajdhani the Indian Restaurant.

A newsletter is being produced providing the progress on the project.  Here is the 8th August Volker Newsletter.

Network Rail information on the project.

Volker Rail  has a website with the latest information about the project.

It has also launched a community app to provide the latest information on the project e.g. progress, car park closures and train cancellations.  Information about the app and how to load it to Android or Apple devices can be found here.

Some pictures of the work being done.

In July 2022 the station was closed for 5 weekends so that work could be undertaken on the track.  The car park was closed for the whole month to allow the delivery and storage of some of the equipment needed to upgrade the line and station. Below are some photos of the work being undertaken by the contractors.

*Many of images below have been provided by Volker Rail and Story JV - Hope Valley Railway Upgrade.

Work is carrying on in and around the station.  Here are some images of the work done in the first quarter of 2023.

More images are on the New Platform page.

Some of the Project History

The Government has given the approval for the HVCS project.  Volker Rail Story JV and Network Rail have started work on the survey work for the project.  This is expected to run between April and October 2021.

A project update was provided by the two companies at the end of July 2021.  The July 2021 presentation and handout are available here:-

• Hope Valley Dore and Totley presentation
• Hope Valley Dore and Totley Handout

 The scheme is estimated at £137million and will provide:-

• an additional track through D&T station, this requires a second platform and bridge between the two platforms to allow passengers to board trains on the Hope Valley line to and from Sheffield
• extending the platform from 115m to 153m
• an extension to the single track which links the Hope Valley line with the Midland Mainline to the west of the D&T station which is used mainly by freight services
• a Bamford Loop which is a place to halt freight trains to allow passenger trains to overtake. This is east of Bamford station
• a new footbridge to the west of Hathersage station to replace an existing crossing for walkers

The main benefits of the scheme should be :-

• increase the number paths for fast trains from 2 to 3 per hour
• to allow a regular hourly stopping service
• to allow 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 stop at Dore and Totley
• accommodate longer freight trains
• improve reliability on the route.

Here is a project overview:-

Latest Position

A public Inquiry was held in 2016.

The inspector produced the Public Inquiry report and sent it to the Department for Transport(DfT) in November 2016.  In Feb 2018 the DfT announced that they agreed with the inspectors report and provided approval for the scheme to progress.

Work has started on the project and the current timetable for the scheme is as follows:-

• Survey Work - April to October 2021
• Site Establishment - Autumn/ Winter 2021
• Construction Works begins - early 2022
• Project Complete - Summer 2023 with possible overrun into 2024

Network Rail Order Inspectors Report and DfT Order Decision Letter

Network Rail Order Inspectors Report

Network Rail Order Decision Letter

Recent announcement and Press Coverage

Government announcement

Railway Technology

Yorkshire Post

Rail Freight