Network Rail has reminded passengers that there will be no trains between Derby and Matlock for nine days from Saturday 14 November as work begins to renew over 4.5km of track along the Derwent Valley Line.
A total of three sites are due to receive upgrades – Matlock Bath, Cromford and near Whatstandwell station – with the end goal being to enable smoother, more reliable journeys for both passenger and freight trains.
Rail replacement buses will run between Derby and Matlock during the closure, which will take place between 14-22 December. These buses will call at all stations, and services between Derby and Sheffield will remain unaffected.
The improvement project will see the renewal and installation of 4.6km of new rail across the three sites, as well as 3,509 sleepers and 6,400 tonnes of ballast. This is hoped to help reduce the need for future maintenance and minimise the overall risk of delays.
In total, there will be eight engineering trains in use – including a New Track Construction train, which lays new rails and sleepers as it travels, enabling a greater volume of track renewal than would otherwise be possible.
Eric Larocque, Network Rail operations director, said:This investment will renew key sections of track along the Derwent Valley Line, helping us provide a safer, more reliable railway for passengers and freight operators.
By replacing rail, sleepers and ballast that have reached the end of their working life, we're improving the resilience of the East Midlands route and reducing the need for unplanned maintenance.
We’d like to thank passengers and residents for their patience while this important work is carried out, and we’re sorry to those whose journeys will be affected.
