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Has Peartree ever had a more regular service to Burton/Brum?

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Comstock

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My XC train goes through Peartree every morning, but of course doesn't stop.

Has this always been the case, or did Peartree once have a more regular service.
 
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Comstock

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Jorge Da Silva said:
not after its reopen in 1976.
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Ah, interesting.

My personal pie-in-the-sky fantasy would be a Derby to Brum stopping service calling at Peartree,Willington, Stretton, Burton, Branston, Barton, Alrewas, Lichfield and on to Brum via the cross city line.

But I don't think anything like that has really ever existed, even in the days before mass car ownership and dualling of the A38?
 
Jorge Da Silva

Jorge Da Silva

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Comstock said:
Ah, interesting. My personal pie-in-the-sky fantasy would be a Derby to Brum stopping service calling at Peartree,Willington, Stretton, Burton, Branston, Barton, Alrewas, Lichfield and on to Brum via the cross city line.

But I don't think anything like that has really ever existed, even in the days before mass car ownership and dualling of the A38?
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The sinfin branch line used part of a line called the Melbourne Line which linked Derby and Ashby De le Zouch via the Castle Donington Line. The Melbourne Line closed to passengers in 1930 and to freight in 1980. The branch line that reopened in 1976 was a short part of the line near derby opened to compete with Birmingham following the success of their Cross City Line. This lead to Peartree reopening on the existing main line and two new stations built on the branch line. Sinfin North and Sinfin Central. The line however was not a success so lost its passenger service in 1993 when it was replaced by a taxi due to sprinters not being permitted on the line. In 1998, Central Trains took over and decided to close the line. Still remains in place, disused ever since. Peartree was left in use because it could still be served by trains although with a basic service.
 
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trentvalley

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Comstock said:
Ah, interesting.

My personal pie-in-the-sky fantasy would be a Derby to Brum stopping service calling at Peartree,Willington, Stretton, Burton, Branston, Barton, Alrewas, Lichfield and on to Brum via the cross city line.

But I don't think anything like that has really ever existed, even in the days before mass car ownership and dualling of the A38?
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Transport for the West Midlands wants to do something along those lines but basically terminating at Burton along with a new parkway station at Alrewas.
 
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Raul_Duke

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pdeaves said:
Officially, no. It still serves the Rolls Royce factory. Fairly recently (within last year?) the bulk of the route was sold to Rolls Royce as a private siding, rather than part of the national network.
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Ah yes, the “aviation fuel,” train.

Nothing to see here, lads...
 
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ag51ruk

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option said:
Rolls-Royce make submarine power plants
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Not at Sinfin, they don't - the Rolls Royce nuclear facility in Derby is on Raynesway, and actually next to the Midland Main Line. It's high security fences and cameras are very visible from the train if you know where to look. The local paper even did an article about what would happen if there was an accident, with a helpful map... (warning of adverts on the link below)

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/rolls-royce-raynesway-nuclear-emergency-2987803

Back to the original subject of this thread, I believe there is an EMR proposal for more trains to stop at Peartree but think it is the Crewe services rather than Birmingham.
 
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chefchenko said:
I believe it’s only accessible when a train is due to stop via an intercom or something similar ???
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There is an intercom next to a security gate for each platform that rings through to get someone to release the gate lock. The station has a high volume of fast trains passing, and given its isolated location had an issue with trespass and sadly other incidents.
 
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So did the line serve just the Rolls-Royce plant, because looking at a map it runs right through the middle of it?
 
Dr Hoo

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Comstock said:
Ah Ok. So it never actually had through service to Brum?
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Just before the original closure, in March 1968, I believe, there were a few local stopping trains on the Burton line that called. There were northbound calls at 0713 (short working from Burton), 0835 (all stations from Brum via Whitacre), 1641 (Brum local, not via Whitacre), 1737 (from Brum via Whitacre), 1837 (ditto). Plus the odd Crewe train at commuting times. Southbound calls at 0651, 0753, 1158, 1258, 1729 (by a Sheffield-Bristol semi-fast, with buffet!), 1806 and 1858 plus the odd Crewe train. More variable stopping pattern overall.

I suspect that the 1729 was handy for a few BR office staff in Derby going home.

The overall route between Birmingham and Derby never really had regular or frequent local passenger trains. Far too many longer distance passenger and freight services competing for paths on a largely two-track line.
 
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ag51ruk

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BanburyBlue said:
So did the line serve just the Rolls-Royce plant, because looking at a map it runs right through the middle of it?
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Sinfin North only had access to the RR plant but Sinfin Central had a footpath to a nearby road - it was nowhere near any houses though. The footpath is still there, I think - I only ever travelled on the line once (still have the ticket somewhere- it was issued to 'Sinfin Zone')
 
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Speaking as a Derby resident, I wouldn't believe a word of anything printed in the Derby Telegraph.

They dig out stuff like this when it's a slow news day.....which is just about every day in Derby!
 
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Trainfan2019

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Dr Hoo said:
Just before the original closure, in March 1968, I believe, there were a few local stopping trains on the Burton line that called. There were northbound calls at 0713 (short working from Burton), 0835 (all stations from Brum via Whitacre), 1641 (Brum local, not via Whitacre), 1737 (from Brum via Whitacre), 1837 (ditto). Plus the odd Crewe train at commuting times. Southbound calls at 0651, 0753, 1158, 1258, 1729 (by a Sheffield-Bristol semi-fast, with buffet!), 1806 and 1858 plus the odd Crewe train. More variable stopping pattern overall.

I suspect that the 1729 was handy for a few BR office staff in Derby going home.

The overall route between Birmingham and Derby never really had regular or frequent local passenger trains. Far too many longer distance passenger and freight services competing for paths on a largely two-track line.
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Ah the delightful Peartree station. I'm intrigued about the southbound calls by the Sheffield to Bristol service, have you any more details please? What years did this service operate to serve Peartree from Sheffield?

Yes, it really is true that you access it via intercoms and locked gates. I had to say which train I was catching and that I had a ticket when I visited there - both platforms. Having read up online over the past few years about Peartree and the Sinfin branchline, the history behind it is really interesting about the stations opening up in the 1970s and gradually falling out of use.

I catch one of the Peartree stoppers to Derby quite often and have noticed there has been as many as 5 people getting on to go to Derby. There never seems as many people getting off the train as getting on. This is in the late afternoon.
 
Sprinter107

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It's very interesting about having to press a button to access the platforms. Surely this station is no worse than many others. I wonder if such measures would put off potential passengers.
 
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Belperpete

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Trainfan2019 said:
Yes, it really is true that you access it via intercoms and locked gates. I had to say which train I was catching and that I had a ticket when I visited there - both platforms.
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So how are you supposed to get a ticket? Go to Derby station first?! At most stations without ticket-issuing facilities, you are supposed to buy a ticket on the train.
 
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Belperpete said:
So how are you supposed to get a ticket? Go to Derby station first?! At most stations without ticket-issuing facilities, you are supposed to buy a ticket on the train.
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Mobile tickets would be the option otherwise you'd have to ask for entry with the intention of buying a ticket on the train. If you weren't a genuine passenger wanting to travel then the cameras would be watching you. Not sure if anyone gets caught by the camera control room though.
 
Sprinter107

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It just seems a very strange way of doing things. Do they have really bad anti social behaviour at Peartree station or something. I cant believe Peartree station is any worse that other stations on the network.
 
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Belperpete

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Sprinter107 said:
It just seems a very strange way of doing things. Do they have really bad anti social behaviour at Peartree station or something. I cant believe Peartree station is any worse that other stations on the network.
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It is in a part of Derby that I personally wouldn't be walking around after dark. I think it is the combination of the area and the almost non-existant train service, so there won't be any passengers around whose presence might discourage any anti-social behaviour.
 
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Belperpete said:
It is in a part of Derby that I personally wouldn't be walking around after dark. I think it is the combination of the area and the almost non-existant train service, so there won't be any passengers around whose presence might discourage any anti-social behaviour.
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I agree there about the Peartree area. The station itself is lovely on a hot summer's day though.

I'm surprised Ardwick station hasn't got the intercom system like Peartree, given the area it's in.
 
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