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The Peaks and Dales Line campaign led by Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP) presented to a full house at the Strutts Centre in Belper on 8 April, supported by four of the mayoral candidates and Railfuture East Midlands branch.

Reinstating the Peaks and Dales Line would provide sustainable connectivity between Manchester and Derby, improving access to education, employment, and social opportunities for the communities the line will serve.  With the visitor numbers reported by the Peak District National Park as between 13 and 25 million every year, and an average car occupancy of 1.5 people, the reinstatement is the catalyst for an effective integrated transport solution and moving people and freight from the roads to the trains.

Over the Easter weekend the Peak District was plagued with traffic congestion and parking problems, widely reported in the media.

Questions to the mayoral candidates included those from Transition Belper, Railfuture and local councillor, John Porter. The councillor asked whether candidates would now back the Peaks and Dales Line reinstatement. All four candidates gave a resounding “yes” to granting an initial study, should they be elected which is a huge boost to the campaign and the communities.

We look forward to continuing to work with the candidates and their support after the election on 2 May.