R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION This route is used by regional and local passenger services
centred on the East Midlands and also carries a significant volume of freight trains,
especially to and from Humber ports.
Route vision
Our vision for this route is to increase its relevance to local communities. This is
to be achieved by continuing to work with local authorities and making the case
for further socio-economic investment to improve public transport access to
Nottingham and other centres. The recent go-ahead for Nottingham Express
Transit will provide an opportunity to help achieve this vision.
We have undertaken station regeneration at a variety of freight services
operate over this route, including coal and oil trains, and the fast-growing
international, intermodal and parcels sectors. There are a number of freight
terminal facilities on this route. Overall, we expect freight traffic to expand,
not only in terms of volume, but also in axle weights, train lengths and
vehicle profiles.
Specific strategic goals are:
• achieving operating cost savings
• developing new stations and services in conjunction with Nottingham,
Lincoln and Derby County Councils
• developing rail initiatives through partnerships such as Nottingham
Express Transit.
Route development and customer requirements
We have consulted with our customers, the passenger and freight train
operators, to determine their needs and how we evaluate them. The
proposals set out in this NMS address all these intentions to deliver their
aspirations for service frequency, customer-information systems and
new rolling stock.
We will also examine the options to improve capacity and journey-time
improvements in line with current operator aspirations.
The route is predominantly two track but with single-track sections from
Ambergate to Matlock and Newstead to Kirkby. Linespeed varies between
60mph and 75mph, with lower speeds at many junctions and stations.
To achieve this vision we will:
• secure and, where possible, encourage income growth, and therefore
profitability, through high-performance delivery, the operation of new services,
or the extension of existing services, and through a consistently high level of
punctuality and reliability, achieved through specific performance initiatives.
• optimise performance income through improved asset reliability.
The route between Peterborough and Gainsborough will be upgraded to form
part of the ECML freight route (see Route 2). This will also enable an improved
passenger service to be provided through higher linespeeds and improved
capability, including grade-separated junctions at Peterborough and Doncaster
which will improve timetable flexibility.
We are developing proposals with Central Trains to reduce journey times
between Stoke and Derby through increasing the linespeed.
We are also evaluating with industry partners and local authorities the
possible reopening of the line between Matlock and Buxton to improve access
to Peak District National Park and create new long-distance passenger and
freight services.
We will continue to work with industry partners, local authorities and outside
developers to improve our stations. In particular, we will address the ease of
interchange with other transport modes, provide better car parking, real-time
passenger-information systems and access for the disabled.
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