Passenger services will be affected when the reconstruction of a bridge deck takes place in Sheffield.
The life-expired steel structure, which carries the railway over the River Sheaf at Beauchief, needs to be replaced for the continued safe running of the railway.
The bridge deck lift had to be postponed in March to protect passenger services due to the delay in delivery of a specialist wagon needed to complete the project.
The bridge has continued to be closely monitored, ahead of the rescheduled lift planned for the weekend of 7-8 November, when there will be the following changes to services:
- CrossCountry: Trains will be retimed by a few minutes between Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield.
- East Midlands Railway: On Saturday, there will be an amended timetable on the Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street route, with trains from mid-morning not calling at Sheffield but calling additionally at Dronfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill, Ilkeston and Bamford, to serve Northern passengers. On Sunday, there will be an amended timetable on the Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street route, with trains calling additionally at Alfreton, Langley Mill and Ilkeston, to serve Northern passengers. Trains will start/terminate at Sheffield. Passengers travelling beyond Sheffield can use other operators’ services.
- Northern: Trains between Nottingham and Leeds, will run between Sheffield and Leeds. Tickets will be accepted on East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and Sheffield, which will call at Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Alfreton and Chesterfield. Buses will be provided between Dronfield and Sheffield. Trains which usually run between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly will run between Grindleford and Manchester Piccadilly only. A rail replacement bus service will run between Sheffield and Bamford.
- TransPennine Express: No trains will run between Sheffield and Manchester Oxford Road via Stockport. Trains between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly will be diverted to run via Huddersfield. Trains between York and Manchester Piccadilly will run between York and Wakefield Kirkgate only. Preparation work for the bridge lift has already started, with a work compound at Dore & Totley station meaning its car park will be temporarily closed from Monday (28 September). Alternative parking is available at Abbeydale Badminton Club (to the rear of Abbeydale Sports Club) and accessible drop-off and pick-up points have been provided at Ladies Spring Grove. Both station platforms will remain open and fully accessible throughout the project (except 7-8 November). The core work will see the new 73-tonne bridge deck lifted into place by crane. Sixty metres of rail will also be renewed, held in place with 86 tonnes of ballast and 90 new sleepers.
Tom Grainger, Network Rail lead portfolio manager, said: “Replacing this life-expired bridge will help continue the safe and reliable operation of the railway for decades to come.
“We appreciate that this is the second time we’ve asked people to adjust their travel plans and parking arrangements, and we’re very sorry for any inconvenience.
“We’re grateful to passengers, residents and businesses for their continued patience. We’re working closely with train operators to minimise disruption and encourage anyone planning to travel over the weekend of 7-8 November to check their journey with their operator or National Rail before setting off.”
A spokesperson for the train operating companies said: “We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep passengers moving while this essential upgrade takes place in Sheffield.
“While some services will be amended over the weekend of 7-8 November, we’re putting alternative travel arrangements in place and doing everything possible to minimise disruption for our customers. We encourage passengers to plan ahead, check their journeys before travelling and allow extra time where necessary.”
The project is set to be completed and Dore & Totley station car park fully restored by early December.
Image credit: Network Rail