Network Rail has announced work will soon begin upgrading tracks between Clay Cross Tunnel and Milford Tunnel.
The work on the Midland Main Line in Derbyshire is set to commence on May 27th and will finish by June 11th, reported the BBC.
This will include replacing sleepers and ballast, fitting special coated rails under the shafts so they are more resistant to inclement weather conditions, and installing new drainage at the 183-year-old Clay Cross Tunnel. Designed by railway engineer George Stephenson, the structure is just over one mile long and remains a main feature on the route between London and Sheffield.
When it comes to the Milford Tunnel repairs, more than a mile of ballast will be replaced.
Route director for Network Rail in the East Midlands Gary Walsh said: “This important scheme is essential to maintaining a safe, reliable and smooth service for passengers and freight users through the tunnels.”
He reminded people to check whether engineering work is taking place before embarking on their journey.
While the repair work is underway, there will be a bus replacement service between Derby and Matlock. This will help those who rely on the rail route for work, as there will be reduced service between Sheffield and London, resulting in temporarily longer commute times.
Passengers have also been reminded there will be no East Midlands Railway or CrossCountry services on May 31st and June 3rd, as the ASLEF union is striking.
This follows industrial action on May 12th and 13th, which impacted a number of rail operators, including Chiltern Railways, c2c, and Avanti West Coast.
On Saturday May 13th, Monday 15th to Saturday May 20th, and Thursday June 1st, there will also be an overtime ban for ASLEF members. During this time, passengers have been warned to “expect significant disruption as it is likely to result in little or no services across large areas of the network”.
Having been built in 1839, the Clay Cross Tunnel is a Grade II listed building, running through Clay Cross hill. It took two and a half years to build the tunnel, situated on the old North Midland Railway Line, and was constructed to create a route between Leeds and Derby.
Work continued through the night, with a large fire at each of the six shafts being lit to provide light for the workers. The cost of building the tunnel went over budget by £42, with the final figure coming in at £140. While this seems paltry in comparison with today’s budgets, it was a lot at the time.
The last brick was laid on December 18th 1839. However, long-distance travel declined in popularity after this, and the number of coaches to Sheffield dropped from seven to three by December 1941.
Despite this, the tunnel still remains in use today, and now forms an integral part of the Midland Main Line.
Tunnel excavation has changed considerably over the years, with all types of machinery now involved in the process, including conveyor belt installation.
