Today (11 March), Andrew Stephenson MP, Minister of State for Transport, announced £137 million for Network Rail to upgrade the Hope Valley line, crediting High Peak MP Robert Largan’s longstanding campaign on this issue.
In the House of Commons, during Transport Oral Questions, the Rail Minister said:
“The Government is committed to levelling up rail infrastructure across the North, and in that spirit, Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to confirm that we have awarded £137 million to Network Rail to complete detailed designs and deliver the Hope Valley capacity scheme.
“This scheme will transform journeys between the Northern Powerhouse cities of Manchester and Sheffield by removing bottlenecks on the Hope Valley line and I pay tribute to my Honourable Friend the Member for High Peak, who has campaigned relentlessly for this scheme since he was elected and has helped get it over the line.”
The delivery of this £137million upgrade scheme will create faster services for High Peak residents and the whole region. Passenger services will be able to overtake slower freight trains, allowing more trains to run and increasing the reliability of services.
Network Rail will improve sections of the railway around Bamford, Jaggers Lane Bridge in Hathersage, and Dore & Totley station, which will have a second platform added, meeting future demand and increasing capacity.
Since being elected in 2019, the High Peak MP has been campaigning hard locally and in Westminster to get the upgrade approved.
Last September, Robert Largan MP organised a cross-party campaign, writing a joint letter to the Transport Secretary, pressing the importance of the upgrade scheme. In speeches and questions to ministers, and in private meetings, Robert has raised this issue repeatedly, speaking up for the people of High Peak.
Huge numbers of local people have signed the High Peak MP’s longstanding petition, calling for the upgrade to go ahead.
Construction is expected to begin in 2022 with completion by December 2023. This timetable will allow design work to be finalised, meet planning conditions, and deliver value for money for rail users and taxpayers.
Robert Largan MP commented:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Government has listened to the people of High Peak and is moving forward with this £137million investment in the Hope Valley line.
This is a really big win for the High Peak and the North. This capacity upgrade investment will help deliver a more frequent and more reliable train service.
“This marks the biggest investment in High Peak’s public transport in my lifetime. I want to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. This shows what we can achieve when we all work together!”
“Over the coming months, I will continue working with Ministers and Network Rail to help keep the scheme on track. By increasing capacity and reducing bottlenecks, the people of High Peak will finally get the fast, reliable rail services they deserve.”
The Transport Secretary, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, commented:
“Robert Largan has been making the case for these vital capacity upgrades to the Hope Valley line since he was elected as an MP.
“I’m delighted that, with Robert’s help, we’ve now been able to get these plans over the line and announce £137 million to undertake the work on the Hope Valley line.
“The scheme will help more trains to run, increase reliability on the line and transform journeys between Manchester and Sheffield – a true example of this Government’s levelling up agenda in action.”
