Bakewell Railway Station

[harry42]

Still think this place desperately needs one. Tourist crowds are growing every summer and the crowds cant cope.

Question for debate to you guys...
Is it likely for Peak Rail to extend in the near future?
A new heritage railway start just south of Buxton?
National Rail to build new lines and stations?

Discuss!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was there not an industrial estate built on the site of the former railway station that closed in 1967 ?

 

[yorkie]

Was there not an industrial estate built on the site of the former railway station that closed in 1967 ?

The station buildings still survive, I've cycled through Bakewell a few times. Industrial units occupy the goods yard. See Disused Stations: Baekwell.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is it likely for Peak Rail to extend in the near future?

It's a long term goal, I believe, but "near future?" not so sure - they have to get through Rowsley first.

The A6 needs to be crossed, which would also prove challenging.

It would be great if it could happen, as at present anyone doing the High Peak trail has nothing (other than, presumably, infrequent buses) to connect to at Bakewell.

I have cycled from Buxton to Matlock, and once from Buxton to Rowsley, and then got Peak Rail to Matlock, but the trains don't connect, and facing a 2 hour wait we cycled to Alfreton instead! Would be great to get a train from Bakewell to Matlock AND for it to actually connect into EMT.

 

[Mugby]

When the bridge at Rowsley was removed, the level of the road was raised to prevent flooding which had been a problem previously.

I don't think they would ever consider lowering the roadway again for the bridge to be re-instated. It's one of those problems which seems to be insurmountable - and the small preservation society will never have the resources to overcome it.

 

[edwin_m]

I think if preservationists can reinstate the Welsh Highland then what they might manage at Rowsley should not be underestimated. However there are many other difficulties not least the National Park and the walking/cycling interests.

 

[harry42]

Problem with EMT connecting with Peak Rail is that they connect with ecclesborune valley railway for Wirksworth instead.

The transpeak runs roughly every 2 hours buxton to bakewell to matlock to derby. When trent used to operate it it ran hourly from Manchester and Nottingham but high peak have now reduced the timetable.

 

[yorksrob]

Needs to be reopened properly.

Not only would it open up the tourist areas in the Peak District but in a logical world it would improve NW/Midlands inter-regional services and relieve us from having to shove more and more mixed passenger and freight traffic down the Hope Valley.

But this is England and our unimaginative Government in London can't see beyond a Network designed for the 1970's.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Needs to be reopened properly.

Not only would it open up the tourist areas in the Peak District but in a logical world it would improve NW/Midlands inter-regional services and relieve us from having to shove more and more mixed passenger and freight traffic down the Hope Valley.

But this is England and our unimaginative Government in London can't see beyond a Network designed for the 1970's.

Ideally it would be great for Peak Rail to extend through from Matlock to Bakewell and even better if it carried on to Buxton. Infact I was given as a Birthday present last year some old rail magazines from the mid 1980s and there was an item about peak rail going from Buxton, to Matlcok via Bakewell, their ideas then made very interesting reading and it seems that they did own some land near Buxton Station, whether they do still have it now or not I don't know, it's a shame it did not come to fruition, it would have been a great way to get around that lovely area. Oh well maybe someday perhaps?

 

[DDB]

Problem with EMT connecting with Peak Rail is that they connect with ecclesborune valley railway for Wirksworth instead.

I would suggest it is the other way round. The ecclesbourne valley service is timed to meet the EMT serivce. The EMT service to/from Duffield is timed in turn to connect with the London service.

As an outside observer it seems to work well for the ecclesbourne line. EMT seem to have adopted them, you can buy through tickets from EMT stations and they appear in the official timetable.
http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/Global/Dec_13_Timetables/TT3%20for%20web%20Dec13%20v3.pdf

The integration is one of the reasons that I visit ecclesbourne a few times each year and the lack of integration is one of the reasons I've only been to peak rail once. From my limited trips, nearly all the people disembarking at Duffield on a Saturday morning transfer to the ecclesbourne line.

The other reason I haven't revisted peak rail is that it doesn't go anywhere at the moment! If they make it through to Bakewell I suspect they will be a massive success. If they also sync with the Matlock EMT train I would be a regular customer. Obviously they are in the catch 22 situation that until they get through to Bakewell they won't bring in the revenue to pay for the extension to Bakewell.

DDB

 

[yorkie]

I would suggest it is the other way round. The ecclesbourne valley service is timed to meet the EMT serivce. The EMT service to/from Duffield is timed in turn to connect with the London service...

Agreed. The Ecclesbourne Railway have chosen to connect with EMT, and it works well.

Whenever I've travelled with Peak Rail, they have chosen not to connect with EMT. The staff admitted it to me, and claimed the timetable could not be changed because it would cost too much to re-print them. I doubt that made commercial sense. The train was almost empty, because it did not connect into EMT, and the next EMT train was 1 hour 58 minutes later (every 2 hours on Sunday).

I was very impressed with my visit to the Ecclesbourne Railway, and plan to go again some time (with my bike).

I doubt I would travel on Peak Rail again.... unless they extend and connect. Otherwise, is there any point? From Bakewell, we have to cycle at least part of the way towards Matlock, and is there any benefit to taking a train for a short distance that misses the connection, compared to continuing to cycle a little bit longer, and guaranteeing making the connection? Well, no, not at all. I want to support preserved railways but sometimes they make travel with them so unattractive it becomes unviable.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Reprint timetables. That is absolute Bull. You print them every year anyway so how is that an excuse. And the extra revenue would most likely pay back!

 

[High Dyke]

It's a long term goal, I believe, but "near future?" not so sure - they have to get through Rowsley first.

Not helped that the original station site is now in use as the Peak Village shopping complex, though the second station site was on a slightly different alignment..

 

[Wyvern]

One of reasons that the Matlock branch has become such a success is that whenit went to hourly running, EMT were also able to introduce a clockface timetable.

It just so happened that the up and down trains meet at Duffield. I dont think it was planned that way but it has been the EVR's good fortune.

Another point is that when you get to Wirksworth there's not just the station and yard but a short walk takes you to Wirksworth itself, which is seeking to utilise its historic heritage. The town and the EVR have had a very good working relationship for many years - essential considering any rolling stock has to be brought through on a low loader.

I've not worked out why Peak Rail cant run their service to meet the EMT train, but the trouble is when you get to Rowsley that's all there is to interest your family. I read somewhere they extending north as far as they can, to a new station. Maybe it will give access to the Peak Shopping Village, a visit to Cauldwell's Mill, or maybe a meal at the Peacock Inn.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

. . . . As an outside observer it seems to work well for the ecclesbourne line. EMT seem to have adopted them, you can buy through tickets from EMT stations and they appear in the official timetable.
http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/Global/Dec_13_Timetables/TT3%20for%20web%20Dec13%20v3.pdf . . . .

THe EVR seem to be very aggressive with the marketing, which I dont think you can say about Peak Rail.

The other day they not only entertained the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin but also the Commercial Manager of EMT and the Managing Director of TrentBarton, giving them all training in driving the Bubblecar.

This morning they announce:

.. . . . Collaboration between private transport providers and heritage railways has taken a quantum leap forward with the announcement of Trent Barton’s new ZigZag Railroader ticket which is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Shortly to be introduced the innovative ZigZag RailRoader ticket will enable passengers to travel anywhere on Trent Barton buses all day together with unlimited daily travel on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. The joint ticket will offer considerable savings to visitors travelling from within the Trent Barton catchment area to Wirksworth, Duffield or intermediate stations on the railway. . . . . .

 

[sprinterguy]

Ideally it would be great for Peak Rail to extend through from Matlock to Bakewell and even better if it carried on to Buxton. Infact I was given as a Birthday present last year some old rail magazines from the mid 1980s and there was an item about peak rail going from Buxton, to Matlcok via Bakewell, their ideas then made very interesting reading and it seems that they did own some land near Buxton Station, whether they do still have it now or not I don't know, it's a shame it did not come to fruition, it would have been a great way to get around that lovely area. Oh well maybe someday perhaps?

Peak Rail initially operated from the Buxton Steam Centre when they set up in 1980, which was on the site of the old Buxton Midland station.

The platform that Peak Rail built (and the water tower) is still extant and visible behind Aldi, but the site has been encroached upon by warehousing in the intervening years since Peak Rail left for Darley Dale.

The disused stations page for Buxton Midland station has some additional information, and photos:
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/buxton/