Peak Rail - Future Developments

Future Developments

The former London to Manchester main line can be considered in four sections:

From London via Derby to Ambergate Junction as the Midland Main Line

Overlapping this from Derby to Ambergate and on to Matlock as the Derwent Valley Line.

The Matlock to Rowsley operated by Peak Rail who also have an interest in the line through Bakewell to Buxton station. From there, the line could follow the former London and North Western Railway (LNWR) line to Manchester (although through trains would have to reverse), or extend from Millers Dale on its original route to join the still existing line to Chinley on the Hope Valley Line.

In 2004, Derbyshire County Council published a study which concluded that reopening the line for a local service was technically feasible and that the track bed should remain clear of development, but it was not an economic possibility in the near future.

The Derwent Valley Line, which connects with the railway at Matlock, has reportedly been allowed to deteriorate both in infrastructure and quality of service. In 2005, a document was published by the Friends of the Derwent Valley Line with the assistance of the County Council. The document argued for improvements to the current service. Network Rail carried out the necessary strengthening of three bridges on the branch, resulting in an improvement of route availability. This potentially allows the line to be traversed by locomotives hauling charter trains on Sundays when there are available paths.

A more recent development with significant implications for Peak Rail's future was the decision by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak Planning Board to support a scheme to develop the trackbed from Bakewell to Blackwell Mill as a cycle track. The 'Monsal Trail' is similar to the Tissington Trail and the High Peak Trail, and includes formerly closed tunnels on the route now being opened to the public as rights of way. The proposal also had a stated aim to extend to Matlock in the long term and this part of the plan has been taken on by Peak Cycle Links who have produced planning applications showing a cycle path following the trackbed as far south as Darley Dale. These plans acknowledge the existing railway as well as phase one of the extension project but make no mention of the proposed extension beyond Rowsley village toward Bakewell. On the plus side having the cycle track run largely alongside the railway between Darley Dale and Rowsley would show that dual use is compatible as well as increasing exposure of the railway. In addition reopening Hadden Tunnel could be viewed as paving the way for extending the railway beyond Rowsley village, although careful consideration would need to be given with respect to steam trains and cyclists/walkers sharing tunnel space.