Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Forum supports "necessary" rail upgrade

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Forum has pledged its support to Network Rail’s proposed Sheffield to Manchester Hope Valley rail line upgrade, calling the scheme ‘important’ and ‘necessary’.

Network Rail applied to the Secretary of State for Transport for the delivery of the Hope Valley rail capacity improvement scheme last year.

Earlier this month, Network Rail submitted a Statement of Case relating to the rail upgrade scheme, in preparation for the public inquiry which will follow in the spring.

Peter Kennan, chair of the Transport Forum and a Partner at Hawsons Chartered Accountants, said: “We have reviewed the Statement of Case, a document running to nearly 200 pages, and fully support Network Rail on its plans.

“This is a really important scheme to improve the capacity of the rail line from Sheffield to Manchester.

“The enhancement work – which involves a loop at Bamford and doubling the track at Dore – is very necessary. It will provide the ability for three fast trains per hour to run from Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly, rather than the current two, which will be of significant benefit to Sheffield and will help to start to deliver the better connections between our northern cities, which we need to help grow our economy.

“For local residents in Dore, to object is understandable, but the line was double track there until fairly recently and so this is predominantly a reinstatement project. Services at Dore and Totley station will be further enhanced as a result.

“Any development in the Peak District National Park is a problem, and Network Rail has to build a loop line at Bamford as part of the scheme. This will enable slower freight trains to be overtaken by the fast passenger services.

“In a national context, this is a major project and for local residents, the scheme will enable an hourly stopping train service to operate between Sheffield and Manchester via the Hope Valley stations. It is hoped that the inquiry will consider the right tests and to allow the scheme to proceed.

“The road links from Manchester to Sheffield remain dreadful and an improved rail service is the only way we can, in the short term, better connect our two Northern Powerhouse cities.

“We have written to Network Rail to give them the Chamber’s full support.”