Rail passengers are being advised that no Buxton to Hazel Grove train will operate during a 10-day closure of the Buxton line starting this Saturday (18th Feb) whilst £5.1m of essential repairs are completed on the Grade II listed bridge which carries the line over Buxton Road.

The structure is located in Whaley Bridge and was built in 1863 and the repair work will see Network Rail replace it in order to keep it safe for use into the future.

The project is well underway and the next stage will see the railway closed from Saturday the 18th to Tuesday the 28th of February 2023 as crucial elements of the bridge are replaced. The closure will mean that no trains will operate between Hazel Grove and Buxton and will also enable the following work to take place.

• Current railway lines will be lifted
• Removal of the old bridge structure
• New steel ribs will be craned into position
• Pre-cast concrete panels for the new bridge deck will be put in place
• New tracks will be laid

Trains are set to return to normal service on Tuesday the 28th of February.

Customers who intend to travel on the Buxton line during the closure are advised to check on www.nationalrail.co.uk 

During the closure, rail replacement buses will be running between Hazel Grove and Buxton, however, they will not be able to serve Whaley Bridge station due to road closures required for the work to take place. Valid rail tickets will be accepted, at no further cost for High Peak Buses (services 60, 61 and 190) for travel heading to New Mills Central. To find out more about bus times, please visit: www.highpeakbuses.com

Rob Stephens, Network Rail principal route engineer, said: “We’ve reached the stage the railway needs to close in this important project to make Buxton Road bridge fit for the future. While rail replacement buses will be in operation to keep passengers on the move, journeys will take longer and I’d advise people to check National Rail Enquiries so they know exactly what to expect while travelling between Buxton and Hazel Grove between 18 and 28 February.

“I’d also like to thank residents and businesses in Whaley Bridge for their continued patience and support while we carry out this major bridge upgrade, which will secure the town’s vital railway link for generations to come.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “All investment in rail infrastructure that improves the customer experience and service reliability is very much welcomed. I’d like to thank customers for their patience while this essential work is carried out and apologise for any short-term inconvenience caused.”

Pedestrians will have no access under the bridge from Thursday the 16th of February to Sunday the 5th of March whilst work is completed under the bridge.

Buxton Road will also be closed until Friday the 31st of March with the project set to complete in April 2023.

Network Rail is working in collaboration with High Peak Borough Council and Historic England in order to meet the standards required in regard to the bridge’s heritage status. The bridge will see approximately one-third of its original structure kept in place whilst the rest will be replaced in keeping with its original design and due to this the time to complete the project is longer as it is more complex than simply replacing a modern bridge.

To find out more about conservation work across the rail network, please visit www.networkrail.co.uk/working-with-railway-heritage.