Visited again today, nice to see the progress.
Looks like in the to-be-demolished waiting room they can't seem to decide if it'll be done in March or April.
Just to clarify, the posters in the waiting shelter have been there for about 2 years and were produced by the Friends of the station from material provided by contractors Volke/Story. Since that time the contract they held was extended to March 24. Handwritten amendments to dates have been added from time to time as the project has slipped.
TOCs have recently been advised by Network Rail"
I am writing to make you aware of a boundary change between Network Rail Regions, Eastern and Central, which may affect you. This is in line with signalling changes in this area, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme. The boundary between the two aforementioned regions is currently at 154m20ch near Totley Tunnel, but this will change to 164m66ch near Hope Station on March 25th, 2024 in line with the signalling change" That is consistent with a previously advised intended blockade around that time tol, connect all together.
It's a moving picture. Locally we were told the main construction of the platform and footbridge would be completed in October and the car park then full reopened until the end of December blockade. This has recently changed the only notification seemingly Volker/Story's electronic noticeboard on the platform as below. It says it's subject to change and since the picture was taken another 11 spaces have been taken. It seems that October date maybe slipping. The car park site was tidy this Sunday afternoon, work on the footbridge foundations advancing on the right.
Work on both platforms is proceeding and the new track had further ballast added this weekend. Note how the right hand side is swinging out to go round the footbridge. The signalling sight boards seem to be in the way of much further progress so will have to be moved. Orange markings along the platform are related to new signalling. Curiously the existing Platform 1 (previously 1 of 4) is to be renumbered 2, apparently recognising that No1 is the one for the biggest traffic flow - towards Manchester, not Sheffield!
Meanwhile construction of the new Principal Supply Point for the signalling is well advanced on the railway triangle. Unfortunately work on the Dore loop below Poynton Wood by West View Lane is still halted until a revised plan is signed off instead of soil nailing.(Apparently the hillside isn't soil but grown over Midland Railway rubble tipped when the line was built.) Once it is that part of the project should be fairly quickly brought back on track, bu it must be a concern - not least for the residents living near the construction work.
Finally, the Bamford loop work looks to be coming along well, although the Hathersage west footbridge is still incomplete after a footpath closure of over a year.
UPDATED 24.8.2023
The revised plan for the Dore loop under Poynton Wood by West View Lane has been signed off and neighbours advised. At the time of the public consultation in 2013 a retaining wall was suggested but soil nailing may have been a cheaper option. Whatever, that's what it's now going to be with work starting next Tuesday until 25th March.
With the contract supposedly to end in March that's tight timing. Letter to neighbours below.