Hope Valley Capacity Scheme updates

[furnessvale]

Previously they quarried shale on site but that's now woked out. The current quarrying will continue up to the sitr boundary to provide material until 2042 when it too will be worked out. The plant itself would then be redundant. The current consultation is about reclaiming and restoring the site within the Peak Park's conservation ideals.

In 10-20 years things may change but currently I've heard nothing to suggezt that the plant itself could be retained to process limestone brought round from the Buxton area quarries. That would require a better rail link in from the west - currently they have to reverse in blocking both tracks.

I doubt provision of a crossover at the west end would be a deal breaker if needed. If the plant is valuable enough stone could be imported the short distance from Dowlow, after all, stone is currently being sent from the Peak to Shap for processing, a much greater distance.

Presumably the consultation is being led by the planning board based on their own preconceptions of what the future holds.

 

[bluelagoon8951]

not a great photo but it seems there's finally some progress on the actual platform structure at dore and totley!

 

[Killingworth]

I doubt provision of a crossover at the west end would be a deal breaker if needed. If the plant is valuable enough stone could be imported the short distance from Dowlow, after all, stone is currently being sent from the Peak to Shap for processing, a much greater distance.

Presumably the consultation is being led by the planning board based on their own preconceptions of what the future holds.

Breedon will have been well aware of the time limitation since first taking over the quarry and plant They can probably speed up or slow down extraction so all might be taken before 2042.

The consultation documents and background linked above have been expected for some time. The quarries will not be extended.The plant itself is a big local employer so will have major impact for jobs beyond the works themselves. Aa fas I could see the consultation assumes they'll close.

A crossover from the west would be helpful now and for the next 15-20 years.

 

[edwin_m]

Even if the exchange sidings aren't there any more, keeping the loop would be useful to "balance" the one at Bamford. Not sure offhand how long the loop is today but the entire complex is over 600m measured along the railway, so should be able to refuge a good range of trains.

 

[Dr Hoo]

If the country NEEDS cement from Hope in 2042, I believe the National Park Authority will be overruled by central government, especially as this is an existing site, not new development. Even without that, Breedon has invested £millions in the plant and has recently authorised £millions more, including importing Welsh slate waste by rail.

The basic business model for Hope Cement Works, going right back to when it was founded by the Earle family, was that two of the main 'ingredients' - limestone and shale - were available next to each other at the boundary between the White Peak and the Dark Peak. And coal wasn't that far away in other parts of Derbyshire as well. I am not aware of any cement works that has sustained production in a very competitive environment with none of its feedstocks available on-site.

In 10-20 years things may change but currently I've heard nothing to suggezt that the plant itself could be retained to process limestone brought round from the Buxton area quarries. That would require a better rail link in from the west - currently they have to reverse in blocking both tracks.

Quite. As the coal from Cwmbargoed did until recently (now imported through Immingham) and slate waste or similar material from North Wales is expected to do for the next few years.

Even if the exchange sidings aren't there any more, keeping the loop would be useful to "balance" the one at Bamford. Not sure offhand how long the loop is today but the entire complex is over 600m measured along the railway, so should be able to refuge a good range of trains.

Earle's Sidings westbound loop is often used to hold returning empty stone wagons towards the Buxton quarries.

Trying to keep this linked to the current capacity scheme; although Earle's Sidings will be a fringe to the re-signalled area (with various preparatory works well in hand) there is no significant alteration to the sidings planned. One of the 'internal' loops, parallel to the signalled westbound loop, is currently being relaid after having been out of use for some while but so far as I am aware this is a Breedon scheme and not directly related to the main scheme.

The capacity scheme is not really justified by or dependent on traffic to/from the cement works although there will obviously be some benefit.

 

[Justin Smith]

The basic business model for Hope Cement Works, going right back to when it was founded by the Earle family, was that two of the main 'ingredients' - limestone and shale - were available next to each other at the boundary between the White Peak and the Dark Peak. And coal wasn't that far away in other parts of Derbyshire as well. I am not aware of any cement works that has sustained production in a very competitive environment with none of its feedstocks available on-site.

An interesting post. But does not the fact that a huge, expensive to build, cement works is already there, plus all the staff obviously, affect the economics?

 

[edwin_m]

An interesting post. But does not the fact that a huge, expensive to build, cement works is already there, plus all the staff obviously, affect the economics?

It will be well over 100 years old by the expected closing date, and no doubt the owners will have its limited lifetime in mind when considering any investment. So it's pretty unlikely to have any future by the time the date comes, especially as all its raw materials as well as product would have to be moved on a rail line with limited capacity.

 

[Justin Smith]

It [the cement works] will be well over 100 years old by the expected closing date, and no doubt the owners will have its limited lifetime in mind when considering any investment. So it's pretty unlikely to have any future by the time the date comes, especially as all its raw materials as well as product would have to be moved on a rail line with limited capacity.

It was first opened in 1929 but I am pretty certain almost all of the plant will be rather newer.....

>>moved on a rail line with limited capacity<<

The line is being upgraded, at great expense !

 

[josh-j]

One can only assume that some other form of traffic also uses the line, to justify its upgrade...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Is this business case available online somewhere?

 

[Killingworth]

Is this business case available online somewhere?

A publicly available full business case, probably not. however there are many references to the project going back almost 30 years.

The current Hope Valley Scheme has evolved since the 1990s when Railtrack accepted that the 1985 singling of the critical track through Dore & Totley station had been a mistake. 6 or 7 years ago a retired British Rail freight manager told me how he'd seen plans on their Manchester office walls to redouble and it was in the Strategic Rail Authority 2002 published plans that included delivery in 2003-4, attached.

Since then it has come and gone as a project, but became mainstream as part of Network Rail's Manchester Hub study published in 2010(?) when new loops for freight had been added, see attached.

Meanwhile freight traffic from the Peak District quarries around Buxton has continued to grow, as had passenger traffic re-Covid. Loss of cement traffic from Breedon's Hope plant will release more capacity for aggregate services - but probably not likely until the late 2030s.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

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.

 

[Killingworth]

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.

 

[td97]

29 hour possession at Hazel Grove from this evening to Monday early am. Should be resleepering and signalling work occurring.

 

[Killingworth]

Briefings from Network Rail and Volker/Story this week , primarily about work at Dore but their letter says;

I am writing to inform you of upcoming works on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade. The improvements planned on the Hope Valley line involve installing new track and infrastructure and undertaking signalling improvements to remove several bottlenecks and increase the reliability of passenger journeys travelling between Manchester and Sheffield. Work has been progressing on the project, with approximately 90% of track now installed for the new passing loop at Bamford, and the final steelwork and painting being completed on the new footbridge in Hathersage.

Then two slides., a third tells that the station car park at Dore will be closed and partially open at various times until April 6th.It's all tied in for the final signalling and track connections at the end of March.





Work progresses, albeit slowly. About 20 more pre-cast platform edge segments have been added since my photos.

 

[snowball]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has completion by March 2024.

 

[Killingworth]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has completion by March 2024.

I'd hope so. That's the very specific date regularly put out by Network Rail and Volker/Story. Should all be live by the 25th March if everything goes to plan and connections all link up for track and signalling from York.

BTW if any heritage railway is interested in Totley Tunnel East signal box it could be made avaliable. Difficult to extract and probably difficult to reposition but NR say it might suit a firmer Midland Railway heritage site. Grindleford box is to be demollished.

 

[dggar]

I'd hope so. That's the very specific date regularly put out by Network Rail and Volker/Story. Should all be live by the 25th March if everything goes to plan and connections all link up for track and signalling from York.

BTW if any heritage railway is interested in Totley Tunnel East signal box it could be made avaliable. Difficult to extract and probably difficult to reposition but NR say it might suit a firmer Midland Railway heritage site. Grindleford box is to be demollished.

Which former Midland Railway heritage operation would be considered Firmer?

 

[InOban]

Has work restarted on the chord?

 

[Killingworth]

Has work restarted on the chord?

Hard to see how much was done last week but men were seen on site. Vegetation has been removed from the line side if you compare the latest picture with the one I added on 20th August. More has probably been done round the curve and out of sight. The residents in the adjacent flats had been told it should all be finished by the end of August but it may now extend well into 2024.

Work continues on the platforms and will be ramping up from this week with the station car park closed.

 

[DDB]

Well the hope Valley has made the government's "instead of HS2" list. It says increasing capacity from 2 fast trains an hour to 3 which sounds like reannouce this scheme which is therfore not new money. However is also apparently includes electrification!

 

[GardenRail]

Well the hope Valley has made the government's "instead of HS2" list. It says increasing capacity from 2 fast trains an hour to 3 which sounds like reannouce this scheme which is therfore not new money. However is also apparently includes electrification!

Hahaha. Yeah. Not in my lifetime.

 

[Snow1964]

Well the hope Valley has made the government's "instead of HS2" list. It says increasing capacity from 2 fast trains an hour to 3 which sounds like reannouce this scheme which is therfore not new money. However is also apparently includes electrification!

It's there in section 43c Electrification of Hope valley line from Manchester to Sheffield, with journey times cut from 51 to 42 minutes and fast trains from 2 to 3 per hour

(and 43b is electrification from Sheffield to Leeds)

part 52 has restoration of railway Sheffield-Stocksbridge

So looks like multiple schemes related to Sheffield

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/651d64646a6955000d78b2e0/network-north-transforming-british-transport.pdf

 

[zwk500]

It's there in section 43c Electrification of Hope valley line from Manchester to Sheffield, with journey times cut from 51 to 42 minutes and fast trains from 2 to 3 per hour

(and 43b is electrification from Sheffield to Leeds)

part 52 has restoration of railway Sheffield-Stocksbridge

So looks like multiple schemes related to Sheffield

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/651d64646a6955000d78b2e0/network-north-transforming-british-transport.pdf

It doesn't take much to work out that list is simply the DfT doing a data rip of any project in any pipeline for a No10 press release desperate to pretend it's doing something.

 

[MarkLong]

It doesn't take much to work out that list is simply the DfT doing a data rip of any project in any pipeline for a No10 press release desperate to pretend it's doing something.

The electification across the Northern England was proposed in 2019 with a rolling electification plan, and blocked by Rishi himself in 2021 when he was in No 11.

 

[Killingworth]

The electification across the Northern England was proposed in 2019 with a rolling electification plan, and blocked by Rishi himself in 2021 when he was in No 11.

Redoubling at Dore was in Railtrack's plans for delivery 2003-4. Locally we won't hold our breath for electrification.

 

[InOban]

Am I right in thinking that the cancellation of phase 2a into Manchester means that there won't be the capacity through Stockport to accommodate the promised Hope Valley services?

 

[Killingworth]

Am I right in thinking that the cancellation of phase 2a into Manchester means that there won't be the capacity through Stockport to accommodate the promised Hope Valley services?

Promised? At present there isn't capacity. I suspect that detail is still being worked on, as will a lot more, but there are also congestion issues down the Sheaf Valley into and through Sheffield.

 

[BrianW]

Am I right in thinking that the cancellation of phase 2a into Manchester means that there won't be the capacity through Stockport to accommodate the promised Hope Valley services?

How logical is that captain?

 

[Chester1]

Am I right in thinking that the cancellation of phase 2a into Manchester means that there won't be the capacity through Stockport to accommodate the promised Hope Valley services?

Phase 2a was Lichfield to Crewe. Phase 2b was Crewe to Piccadilly. Its the latter that freed up tremendous capacity through Stockport and into the existing Piccadilly platforms. As things stand the only chance for a third Hope Valley express service is via Bredbury not Stockport. Its not just Stockport that is the issue, its Slade Lane where the Airport line joins / branches off from the WCML.