REACHING NEW PEAKS

 

A new proposal to reopen the Peaks and Dales railway Line aims to revive local rural communities in the Peak District National Park

When future England international Frank Swift debuted for Manchester City on Xmas Day 1933 at Derby County he joined his team mates on the direct train journey via Bakewell from Manchester to the east Midlands railway town

It is a trip not possible today after parts of the rail track around Buxton and Matlock were removed in 1968, five years after the Beeching Report acted as the catalyst for the destruction of much of the railway network.

Now, Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP) has been formed with the aim of re-opening the line for passenger and freight traffic.

MEMRAP would welcome the backing of local trade unionists and longer term hopes that unions will join them in lobbying major politicians.

When I joined retired Chartered Accountant Stephen Chaytow, who inspired the setting up of MEMRAP after he moved 4 years ago from London, he was handing out leaflets to visitors, the large majority of whom had arrived by car before going cycling or walking on the hillsides, at the former Millers Dale train station. The response by the public to his “it will be a new trail, a new railway, you can leave your car at home and bikes go in a bike garage,” was overwhelmingly positive.

Why has MEMRAP been set up?

“There is an ongoing economic decline in Derbyshire because of the absence of this key infrastructure,” he explained. There seems to be a culture that nothing can be done. That’s not so and we need to offer a better economic and more sustainable future for the county and its residents.

“We are currently concentrating on leafleting to let people, and their elected representatives, know our aims.  I think politicians are starting to be asked their views by electors. There is a well-worn trail of studies, public consultation and technical work to conclude before we can hope to get parliamentary blessing for a Transport and Works Act Order. It would cost around a billion pounds as the work includes 13 miles of new track and 23 miles of upgraded track plus slightly moving the Monsal trail”.

All of which will take, at least, a decade especially as reopening the railway line would involve reconstructing the Monsal Trail, which is a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District's most spectacular limestone dales. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale and Coombs Road, at Bakewell.

What similar campaigns have you drawn inspiration from?

 “The Borders Rail project has brought new connectivity to the declining areas of the Scottish Borders with the town centre of Galashiels prospering whilst a few miles down the road, Hawick, without rail connectivity, remains in decline”.

How will local communities benefit?

Our canvassing has shown residents want to be able to travel for Manchester for jobs, family and social events,” reports Stephen. “ It would take an hour by train. Locally, there are few big businesses and that’s due, in part, to transport problems. A new road would not be tolerated and rail is the only option. It will level Derbyshire up to locations elsewhere, encourage businesses to move here and thus create more jobs.

“Meanwhile, visitor traffic clogs up National Park roads and rail will encourage people to make the journey by rail. We believe there can be a 40% drop in road traffic. There are many trucks from working quarries and we believe their products could be transferred to the new rail track.”

And what benefits will there be for rail travellers?

“Many travellers avoid rail when moving between the East Midlands and the North West. The mix of proposed new stations (all with dedicated bike carriages) through the National Park, semi fast and fast train services is tailored to the needs of a population that wants to make less use of its cars but is denied today.

The track will mean that trains can run from London St Pancras to Derby and on to Manchester and this in essence means the country will have a new mainline rail service at just a billion pounds”.

Can Landworker readers support the project?

“Yes and significant support from trade unions could be pivotal to influence politicians – and this is a cross party matter, something I have learned from Labour and Conservative alike, due to the long lived nature of such a project.

“Trade unionists can join MEMRAP, they can write to representatives from Stockport to Leicester, via Matlock and Derby and we would welcome union financial support as we are an unfunded group. We would be happy to speak at union events, take questions and get people’s views,” concluded Stephen.