The Peaks and Dales Line
Sustainable integrated transport - connecting local, regional and national communities
Welcome
The Peaks and Dales Line is the name adopted for the proposals for reopening the former Midland Mainline that would enable the return of a regular, direct Manchester to Derby service via Buxton, Bakewell, Chinley and Matlock for the first time since closure in 1968.
We are the Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP) and we lead the proposals for the reinstatement of the route with unique support from the Department for Transport in completing the feasibility study in early 2025.
The feasibility study is necessary to understand the outline costs and also the specific benefits that could be achieved for all the communities the line will serve and is the first formal study to be undertaken for the route in over 20 years.
The reinstatement feasibility study is currently underway, managed by our team along with selected organisations who are all donating their skills, experience and time at zero cost.
Through membership fees and your kind donations we are able to progress the campaign more effectively enabling the groundbreaking study to be concluded as soon as possible.
Please click the button above if you are able to support the reinstatement with a donation, no matter how small, it all directly funds the feasibility study.
The Railway
By reinstating and upgrading around 36 miles of the original route, our proposals deliver a direct railway connection between Manchester and Derby for the first time since 1968, providing national, regional and much needed connectivity for the local communities along the route.
The reopened railway would provide vital community connectivity as well as sustainably providing access to the National Park.
THE MONSAL TRAIL NETWORK
Approval for the Monsal Trail was linked to safeguarding the route for the possible future reinstatement of the railway.
Planning consents require a replacement trail to be constructed within the National Park as part of the reinstatement of the railway.
We are working on exciting proposals to create an enhanced experience for visitors to the Peak District National Park. This will enable connectivity with the stations along the route, and also provides improved access to other trails and footpaths.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability and investing in biodiversity and the environment are at the heart of our proposals.
Given the number of visitors to the Peak District National Park each year, and the openly acknowledged 'unsustainable transport problem' created by around 95% of those Park visitors arriving by car, this is a long-standing and ongoing situation that can only be resolved by having a multi-modal integrated transport solution that includes rail.
Re-opening the line provides a unique opportunity to deliver a sustainable transport solution, with significant carbon reduction potential through modal shift from road to rail, and investment in nature recovery networks along the route.
Latest News
Click here to read our latest news item, or join us as a member to receive more detailed and regular updates on our progress as well as directly contributing to the campaign.
The positive impact that a regular passenger service, plus a railway freight services has on reducing road vehicles is evidenced across the country.
Every single train on the Peaks and Dales Line could reduce road vehicles as shown here:
