Derwent Valley Community Rail Partnership (CRP) is delighted to see the return of hourly services between Matlock, Derby, and Nottingham, providing the opportunity to better connect with communities, visitors, and stations along the line.
On Tuesday 20 June, members of the Derwent Valley CRP were joined by stakeholders and partners to celebrate this enhanced connection across the line. Attendees included representatives from Community Rail Network, CrossCountry, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, East Midlands Railway, Marketing Nottingham, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Visit Nottinghamshire, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, and The Heights of Abraham. Also in attendance was the distinctively dressed Mrs Brassington, Victorian ambassador for the Heights of Abraham!
The group met at points along the line from Matlock to Nottingham Station, where there was an opportunity to network and reflect on the benefits the hourly service will bring to residents, students, and visitors to Derwent Valley.
The full reintroduction of the service now provides hourly trains from Monday to Saturday along the route at Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, and all stations to Matlock. This will complement the existing Nottingham, Derby to Matlock service that operates on Sundays. Attenborough and Spondon also benefit, with many more train services to Nottingham, Derby, and the Derwent Valley.
The reinstatement of these key services by East Midlands Railway follows a wide-ranging campaign to highlight the importance of these direct services between Matlock and Nottingham, after their withdrawal in June 2021. This included public meetings and a petition signed by over 10,000 people.
Councillor Trevor Ainsworth, Chair of the Derwent Valley Line CRP, said: “I am extremely pleased that East Midlands Railway has fully re-instated our Derwent Valley Line service between Matlock and Nottingham, providing great opportunities for leisure travel and especially those travelling to work and young people to education. I would like to thank all the people along the whole route who championed the return of the service including the support of local councillors and MPs.”
Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, said: “Visit Peak District & Derbyshire is delighted the direct train service from Matlock to Nottingham has been reinstated. This route is important not just for the local community and those who live and work here, but also for the thousands of visitors who travel to the area each year. Having a good train service is vital for reducing the number of cars on the road, and we look forward to promoting the route as part of our wider work to promote sustainable travel and car-free days out.”
Councillor Barry Lewis, Council Leader, said: “I am delighted to see that this vital service has been reinstated. Along with many others I campaigned to get the trains running from Matlock right through to Nottingham and am grateful that East Midlands Railways has been able to provide this service once again.”
Click here to view the timetable for the new service.
