After being closed for seven months because of a significant landslip, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Derbyshire is set to resume train services to and from Duffield Station next Friday, June 14th.
The reopening is a triumph of community spirit and engineering expertise.
Provided that final testing proves satisfactory and approval to reopen is received, it will coincide with a brand new ‘Back to the 40s’ event.
After the landslip caused operations to be suspended, extensive repairs were needed to reinstate the line.
For a mainly volunteer-led operation, it was no small feat to get the line back to a state where it could operate safely and reliably.
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway expert track engineers worked tirelessly alongside a passionate team of volunteers, overcame numerous obstacles to restore this vital link.
We are thrilled to welcome passengers back to Duffield Station.
Donna Taylor, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Business Development Officer,
Both visitors to the railway and the local community will welcome the reopening of the picturesque Duffield Station.
Situated in the charming village of Duffield, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway will once more provide convenient access to the scenic beauty of the Ecclesbourne Valley and for tourists and residents alike.
To mark the line’s reopening, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway has planned a series of special events starting with next weekend’s ‘Back to the 40s’ event from Friday, 14th to Sunday, 16th June.
With a range of exciting displays, entertainment, and traders, the weekend promises to be a suitable welcome for the return of steam to the Ecclesbourne Valley.
Soon to be an added bonus for local residents is an exclusive discount pass which the railway plans to introduce in the near future.
Duffield station is also shared by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway with East Midlands Railway services on the Midland Main Line.
Last month, Network Rail announced that it had completed renovations of the station’s Victorian footbridge.
This has been a long and arduous journey, but today we celebrate the remarkable resilience of our community and the unwavering dedication of our staff and volunteers.
The successful completion of this complex project is a testament to the incredible support we received from our loyal visitors, generous donors, and skilled engineers.
Neil Ferguson-Lee, Chairman of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
We are thrilled to welcome passengers back to Duffield Station.
We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion and rediscover the joy of traveling along our historic line.
Donna Taylor, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Business Development Officer,
Responses
“As a fellow supporter of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, I’m glad to see the line reopen to Duffield. It’s a testament to the hard work of staff and volunteers.
Regarding the landslide and its impact on the neighbouring property, it’s important to remember that these situations are complex. It takes time for experts to assess the damage, determine the cause, and create a safe repair plan. The railway’s statement clarifies that this process is ongoing and that the safety of all involved is a priority.
Let’s be patient and allow the professionals to do their job. Rushing to judgment or assigning blame doesn’t help anyone. Instead, let’s focus on supporting those affected by the landslip and hope for a speedy resolution for all concerned.
The re-opening of the railway to Duffield is a completely separate issue from the repairs to the adjoining house, which are to be executed through the owners’ insurers, in consultation with our insurers and structural engineers for each party. The repair works will be complex and substantial and it has taken time for the experts to define the problem and devise a workable and safe solution. We hope that the final details will be settled very shortly and that the structural repairs will begin soon.
The landslip at Duffield involved the collapse of a retaining wall caused by substantial volumes of water flowing downhill and saturating the clay at the top of the slope, on which the wall foundation stood. This has nothing to do with any action or lack of action on the part of the Railway.
Perhaps Neil Ferguson-Lee and the other senior figures in charge of this railway might now, finally and following inexcusable delays on their part, give serious thought to assisting the disgracefully-ignored couple made homeless as a consequence of the landslip.
There may, as they claim, be local celebration of the reopening of the line into Duffield…
I can tell them, however, that there is also much disquiet (bordering on disgust) at the failure to support the two people forced to leave their property at the foot of Champion Hill.
Their unwillingness to accept responsibility for the landslip is highly unfortunate. In terms of who should accept at least some blame and offer compensation, I would suggest that principal ownership of the problem lies in the name of where the landslip(s) happened… it’s called a “RAILWAY cutting.”
For the record, I am one of the original shareholders in this railway. I still hold those shares – but I shall not be riding in one of their coaches again, as my small form of protest.
David,
Please see my reply in the form of a separate ppost.
Thanks,
Neil