During the last 16 days, Network Rail engineers have worked around the clock to complete major upgrades to the track in Clay Cross and Milford tunnels on the Midland Main Line in Derbyshire.

Network Rail teams together worked over 17,000 hours to completely renew the track in the two tunnels.

Clay Cross Tunnel is 183 years old, and its drainage has been upgraded, new sleepers and ballast laid, and specially coated rails installed under the tunnel’s ten shafts to make them more resilient to inclement weather.

In Milford tunnel, significant upgrades were undertaken. Taken together, over two miles of track has been renewed in the two tunnels.

During the work, 32 engineering trains were used to replace 5040 sleepers, 12,322 tonnes of ballast and 360 tonnes of rail. The result for passengers is that they will benefit from a safer and more reliable railway.

Inevitably the work caused disruption to services, but Network Rail worked closely with East Midlands Railway (EMR) and CrossCountry to keep passengers on the move throughout by diverting some train services and providing rail-replacement buses.

Steve Hopkinson, Operations Director for Network Rail in the East Midlands, said: “It is great to see that this essential work to fully upgrade the tracks in these two Derbyshire tunnels has now been completed.

“I would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we carried out this significant programme of work, which will bring much smoother and more reliable journeys to our passengers and freight users travelling through the two tunnels.”

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for EMR, said: “We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst Network Rail carried out the track renewal works around North Derby.

“Our customers will benefit from improvements to both Milford and Clay Cross Tunnels for years to come.”

John Robson, CrossCountry’s Regional Director for the East Midlands & East Anglia, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while work has been underway on one of our key routes between Derby and Chesterfield. The essential work carried out over the last 16 days means that our passengers can count on the railway to deliver swift, reliable journeys through Derbyshire for years to come.”

Clay Cross North County Councillor Charlotte Cupit visited Clay Cross tunnel on 2 June to see the work taking place, she said: “Many thanks to everyone who has been involved in this major local project. During the works, it was a privilege to be able to visit Clay Cross Tunnel to see this historic site and to learn more about the upgrade to a key part of our local rail infrastructure. Thank you to Network Rail for organising this.”