The Department for Transport (DfT) have already provided positive feedback regarding the proposals as part of the Restoring Your Railway Fund process.

 

Whilst we were not succesful in securing a financial contribution to our proposals, we were able to secure valuable feedback, guidance and, importantly support for continuing to develop our proposals.

 

Dft confirmed our proposals:

 

• provide a strong case for levelling up;

• demonstrate the positive impact the railway would have on the local and regional economy;

• make a strong case for addressing known transport problems.

 

Our feasibility study is the first of up to four stages of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP); as defined in The Planning Act 2008. 

 

We are currently finalising the feasibility study that will be assessed by various teams in the Department for Transport and subject to the positive outcomes from the study we will progress into the Strategic Outline Business Case.

 

From this point our ‘submission(s)’ are expected to be handled by the Planning Inspectorate, and that approval for the proposed reinstatement will ultimately be a decision made by the Secretary of State for Transport.

 

 

 

 

The reopening of the railway provides local, regional and national benefits.  Our 'strategic context' statement highlights the benefits and includes:

 

• improving passenger and freight connectivity between the North-West and East Midlands and beyond;

• tackling the acknowledged “unsustainable” use of private vehicles to, from, through and within the Peak District National Park;

• providing additional railway capacity lost as a result of the High Speed 2 Manchester Leg cancellation;

• catalysing growth and tourism across the communities the line will serve;

• supporting the decarbonisation of surface transport;

• benefiting the environment by reducing a range of emmissions as well as investing in the natural enviroment of the National Park and surrounding areas;

• increasing opportunities for access to social, education and employment opportunities within and outside the communities served by the line;

• driving 'modal shift to rail' for passengers and freight;

• reconnecting the communities isolated without the railway by delivering a sustainable, high capacity transport solution, fully integrated at stations with other modes of transport;

• improving access to / from the National Park and regional centres for those that do not have, or choose not to have a car;

• improving quality of life in local towns and villages by reducing road traffic, noise, air pollution and parking problems;

• improving and speeding up longer distance travel compared with road alternatives.

 

Some of the identified benefits include:

 

• re-connecting 150,000 residents including the 38,000 residents of the National Park itself;
• re-linking local communities along the route;
• acting as a catalyst for inward investment into the communities;
• reinstating a ‘North West to East Midlands’ public transport connectivity spine;
• integrated transport solutions at stations;
• unlocking and enabling substantial modal shift to rail;
• significantly improving accessibility;
• significantly improving business, community and leisure travel;
• shifting road freight to rail;
• enhancing tourism with both heritage rail and rail excursion capacity;
• delivering an enhanced network of trails and footpaths, integrated with other transport modes.