Sunday Rail Disruption During March

Network Rail will be carrying out essential rail improvement work between Derby and Matlock which will affect Sunday travel on this route during March.

Replacement buses will operate instead of trains on Sunday 6, 13, 20 and 27 March on the line between Derby and Matlock.

Following customer feedback, East Midlands Trains has developed an extensive communications plan to make customers aware of the changes. A dedicated page on the website shows photos of the bus stops at each station; Matlock, Matlock Bath, Cromford, Whatstandwell, Ambergate, Belper, Duffield and Derby and a full timetable. The bus stop for replacement buses through Belper is on Bridge Street at the Lion Hotel (Southbound) and across the road (Northbound).

Posters are on display at all the stations, which also include a full timetable and a map showing where the replacement bus services will drop off and pick up customers.

East Midlands Trains has also arranged for a dedicated bus co-ordinator to be on each bus, who will be able to provide advice and information on where to get off for the various tourist attractions on the route.

Jason Cocker, Area Station Manager for East Midlands Trains, said:

“We know that our customers would always prefer to travel on a train rather than a replacement bus, but the work being undertaken by Network Rail means that we will not be able to run trains on Sundays during March.

“We do want to make it as easy as possible for people to keep travelling with us, so we’ve listened to customer feedback and have arranged for extra information to be at our stations and on our website, which easily identifies where people can catch the bus and at what time.

“We’d advise any customers planning to travel on Sunday 6, 13, 20 or 27 March to check on our website or at one of our stations for more information.”

The work being carried out by Network Rail includes refurbishment of a viaduct over the River Derwent north of Belper, and refurbishment/renewal of the switch and crossing equipment at Ambergate Junction.

Gary Walsh, area director for Network Rail in the East Midlands, said:

“This is important maintenance that will help keep train services reliable for passengers travelling between Matlock and Derby. We of course apologise for the inconvenience that this essential work will cause and hope passengers understand the need to keep the line safe by maintaining it regularly.”

By David George