For the first time since 1985, Dore & Totley station in Sheffield has a second platform.
On Monday 25 March the first passenger train stopped at the new fully accessible platform, marking the completion of the new track layout at Dore junction, delivered by VolkerRailStory Joint Venture on behalf of Network Rail.
In the run up to this milestone, teams worked around the clock to implement the new signalling system and finalise track installation, ensuring the Dore South Curve extension was completed, doubling the number of tracks in and out of the station, along with finishing the new track in Grindleford and Bamford.
At 5:21am a TransPennine Express service to Liverpool Lime Street was the first train to stop at the second platform. This was followed by Northern’s first trains, the 6:50am train to Sheffield, and the 7:19am train to Manchester Piccadilly through Hope Valley.
Speaking of the achievement, James Goldsby, project director from VolkerRailStory said: “This is an amazing achievement and the culmination of three years of work by the VolkerRailStory joint venture. The work undertaken will now remove several bottlenecks for trains operating between Manchester and Sheffield, providing passengers with a much improved service.”
Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “The second platform and track through the station will bring much-needed improvements, providing for extra capacity in the future with better train speeds and enhanced reliability on this key section of our route”.
Chris Nutton, major projects director at TransPennine Express, said: “We’d like to thank everyone involved in the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade for their hard work and diligence as this vital project nears completion. The upgrades on the Hope Valley line will improve the journeys of our customers travelling between Manchester and Sheffield for years to come.”
