Update regarding scour protection undertaken adjacent to River Sheaf
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Client: VolkerRail Story JV Location: Sheffield Background: The Hope Valley Capacity Scheme forms part of the government’s commitment to upgrade the North of England’s rail network, to meet future passenger demand. Kaymac were recently contracted by VolkerRail/Story Joint Venture (VRSJV) to...
www.kaymacmarine.co.uk
I'd noticed the fairly large Kay Marine workforce by Beauchief Gardens.
There's an error in their press release. The Sheaf is formed from the confluence of the Old Hay Brook and Totley Brooks, both on the east side of the hills. The Sheaf runs north into the River Don then Ouse before reaching the Humber.
The Burbage Brook runs south on the western Grindleford side of the hill and flows into the Derwent and Trent before the Humber.
UPDATED 17.5.24
After almost 8 weeks of operational experience has there been a perceptible improvement in train performance? Marginally, perhaps. To regular users, no, but that was never likely thanks to issues west of Piccadilly and east of Sheffield.
Full appraisal is now complicated because the stopping service is currently diverted from Piccadilly through Stockport and Hazel Grove to New Mills. The Hazel Grove chord is taking a lot more traffic than usual, freight as well as passenger, and that's adding pressure all the way through Stockport.
At the Sheffield end Northern stoppers continue to be held for late TPE services coming through from Cleethorpes and to allow longer distance services priority between Sheffield and where they cross to the Hope Valley at Dore Station Junction.
Westbound services may still be experiencing delays when following freight services. There may be teething problems using the two new loops at Bamford and Dore?
Work is still continuing on the embankment alongside the Dore loop. That may be limiting its use? it's certainly causing considerable ill feeling against the railway from the residents in the adjacent West View Lane flats and other neighbouring properties. They were told work would be completed by August 2023 with landscape restoration in October. The reasons why not have been well explained. The diesel generator chugging away below windows night and day has become background noise but pile driving has continued with ever more concrete being poured.
At Dore & Totley station work is continuing to restore the car park with total restoration now expected by the end of August.
Both the new Stannah lifts have been out of order since Tuesday morning! An offsite central issue? Users for Manchester and the Hope Valley needing the lifts are advised to take the next hourly train into Sheffield (no charge) and come back out again. Anyone coming out of Sheffield should, in theory, seek assistance and be provided with a free taxi. Anyone who discovers the issue after boarding the train should continue to Grindleford and get the next train back. If they discover the issue after leaving the train they'll have to wait an hour for the next or hope there's a strong person willing to help them up and over the bridge. Don't be wanting to use the last trains of the day.
Yesterday I observed a determined older lady (no luggage) very, very slowly taking the steps ever so carefully one at a time, firmly gripping the handrail stopping now and then for a breather. For her the loss of the single platform station was very clearly not an improvement!! The contractors still have fire marshals posted on the station and they have been offering assistance but that won't be the normal situation.
The Dore loop work continues - good to see the green setting