Chesterfield public transport

Government confirms Barrow Hill line to reopen for passengers in Chesterfield

The government has confirmed it will fund the reopening of the Barrow Hill Line to passengers after being used as a freight-only line for the last six decades.

The line was closed to the public as part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s, but local officials have been campaigning to reopen it to passengers, in order to improve sustainable public transport for the region.

Prior to its closure to the public, the Barrow Hill Line line ran between Chesterfield and Rotherham. Trains stopped at Clay Cross, Whittington, Barrow Hill, Staveley, Renishaw, and Killamarsh.

Its re-opening is part of a number of local infrastructure projects announced by the government across the north and midlands.

The ‘Network North’ scheme was revealed at the same time as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak announced that the second phase of HS2, which would have seen high-speed trains picking up passengers from Chesterfield, had been cancelled.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “We have been working with our partners for the last few years to establish a strong business case for the reopening of the Barrow Hill Line and we are pleased that the government can now provide certainty on the future of this project.

“It complements ongoing investment in Staveley through the Town Deal and by the council and private sector partners – together these investments will help ensure Staveley residents have access to more employment opportunities and that the local economy can thrive.

“We were very disappointed with the Government’s announcement to cancel HS2 north of Birmingham, and we are still seeking clarity on what alternative investment may be coming to the Chesterfield borough area.”

In addition, Network North promises a number of infrastrcture improvements for our region:

  • Ensuring the delivery of 10 road schemes in the Midlands.
  • Supporting the incoming East Midlands Mayor with a new transport devolution settlement of £1.5 billion.
  • Extending the £2 bus fare through to the end of 2024.
  • Funding for hundreds of new local bus routes through Bus Service Improvement Plans.
  • Commitment to an additional £2.2 billion to tackle potholes.

It also comes just days after the announcement that a further £20 million has been allocated to improvements in Chesterfield, with a town board expected to be formed in order to formulate a long-term plan for the borough.

Find out more about investment opportunities in Chesterfield – a town with an excellent strategic location, affordable business premises and a wide-ranging network of support.

Chesterfield Rail Train

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Derbyshire residents to benefit from discounted bus travel across the county

A new ticket scheme is set to offer unlimited bus travel across Derbyshire from £6 a day.

Available from 24 April 2023, the new ‘Derbyshire Wayfarer’ tickets are part of a range of improvements for bus travel in the county, funded by the Government. All bus operators in Derbyshire are offering the new tickets.

Derbyshire County council has been awarded £47 million from the Government to improve bus services in Derbyshire, after submitting a Bus Service Improvement Plan. This amount was one of the largest awarded in the country. The new Wayfarer tickets are being funded from this money.

Day tickets can be bought on all buses, or can be bought online and loaded onto special Wayfarer smartcards. Several options are available, including weekly and group tickets. Wayfarer cards will also be available in libraries and tourist information centres.Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said: “These new tickets are great news for everyone who currently uses the bus. We hope they will tempt more people to give the bus a go.

“For a small sum of money you can travel all across the county, making it cheaper and easier to get to work, to visit some of our wonderful tourist attractions or perhaps pop to see friends and family.”

“This new discounted travel scheme is one of a large number of improvements that we will be making to bus travel in Derbyshire and we are grateful for the financial support from the Government.”

Roads minister Richard Holden said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Derbyshire County Council with £47 million to boost its bus services.

“Supporting all bus operators in Derbyshire with providing unlimited bus travel for as little as £6 is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Derbyshire has to offer.”

The Wayfarer tickets available are:

  • one day for an adult – £8
  • one day for a young person aged up to 16 – £6
  • one day for a group of up to 2 adults and 3 children – £15.50
  • seven days for an adult – £33
  • seven days for a young person aged up to 16 – £24.60

Wayfarer smartcards can be bought online at sytravelmaster.com. These prices are set for the next 6 months as an introductory offer.

The current Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket will become the Derbyshire Wayfarer Bus and Train ticket.

 

bus chesterfield

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Chesterfield to benefit from extra bus services

Two bus services that operate in and around Chesterfield now have more services and extended routes from 27 March 2023 thanks to government funding.

Service 55 (which currently goes from Alfreton to Chesterfield via Tibshelf) has been extended to Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the train station every day. It has also been extended to Wimsey Way industrial estate in Somercotes morning and evenings, Monday to Saturdays, so that workers can use the bus to get to and from their jobs.

Later evening services have also been added, with the last bus leaving Chesterfield at 11:15pm (previously 6.15pm) and Alfreton at 10:15pm (previously 6:30pm). On Sundays there are three later services with the last bus being 11:15pm.

Service 170 (which previously went from Chesterfield to Bakewell) has been extended from New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, to the train station and there are extra evening journeys at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm from Chesterfield (previous last bus 6:15pm) and 8pm, 10pm and midnight in the other direction (previously last bus 6:15pm).

These three late buses have also been extended from Bakewell to Matlock to fill a gap between these two towns Monday to Saturday.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said: “I’m delighted that the extra money we have had from the government has enabled us to make these improvements.

“I’m sure that they will be welcomed by those who currently use these 2 services, and that more people will be encouraged to try the bus instead of using their cars.

“We were awarded £47 million by the government to improve bus services in Derbyshire over the next few years, and these are the first 2 services to gain extra money.”

Both services are operated by Hulleys of Baslow. The total cost of the extra services to the council is £558,445 over the 3 years of the Bus Service Improvement Plan programme.

bus coach station chesterfield

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North Derbyshire in the running to recieve several new rail stations

A proposal to reopen existing rail lines to passengers bringing the potential to build up to four new stations in North Derbyshire are steaming ahead with project leaders working with Network Rail to get the plans moving.

Derbyshire County Council has confirmed it is working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Network Rail to develop the business case to reopen the current, freight-only Barrow Hill line between Chesterfield and Sheffield to passengers.

If the outline project gets the green light at the next stage, it will signal the start of work to reintroduce passenger trains on the line and build up to 4 new stations in Derbyshire at Whittington, Staveley Barrow Hill, Eckington / Renishaw, and Killamarsh.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, Councillor Carolyn Renwick, said: “This is all part of the Levelling Up agenda and we’re pleased that Government has recognised the need to reintroduce passenger services along these two routes.

“Significant new employment and housing development is already planned along the Barrow Hill Line route with long-overdue investment in this part of Derbyshire kick-started by the Staveley Town Deal.

“Re-opening both lines would build on this momentum, making it easier for people to travel to work, education, and healthcare, cutting congestion, improving air quality, and promoting greener travel as part of our commitment to cut carbon emissions to help tackle climate change.”

It is anticipated that the next stage of work by Network Rail should take approximately 4 months to complete.

The £25 million Staveley Town Deal offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve the quality of life for residents, create new employment opportunities with higher level skills, ensure it is a place where everyone can be proud to live and guarantee that the town and its residents have a bright future ahead – supporting Staveley as a place to start, stay and grow.

Meanwhile, Chesterfield Borough Council’s plans for development around Chesterfield station are well advanced, as set out in the recently approved Station Masterplan. The ambitious plans are set to transform the area between the town centre and Chesterfield Train Station – creating a vibrant gateway to North Derbyshire and setting out potential sites to create around 850 new jobs. Find out more here.

 

Chesterfield Railway Station at Night

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