Restoring Your Railways : Maid Marion Line

[OverlordBWT]

A few years ago now. People in the parishes surrounding and adjacent to the Maid Marion Line received a letter. Offering the opportunity under the Restoring your Railways scheme to reopen the Maid Marion Line and add a station offering four trains per hour in the Bolsover village of Pinxton. And ashfield village of selston.

After a recent visit to near there to visit family and taking a walk on footpaths near. I saw little progress. Level crossings activated only ever 2 times daily had been fixed. And foot crossings now added properly and securely.

So my question is. What is actually happening here? Is there even a station to be built? Or is the connectivity of this are just something brushed over? Attached is the document from 2022 citing the line (nevermind. Access is there on google) . Other than this I have no leads.

Thanks

 

[swt_passenger]

A few years ago now. People in the parishes surrounding and adjacent to the Maid Marion Line received a letter. Offering the opportunity under the Restoring your Railways scheme to reopen the Maid Marion Line and add a station offering four trains per hour in the Bolsover village of Pinxton. And ashfield village of selston.

After a recent visit to near there to visit family and taking a walk on footpaths near. I saw little progress. Level crossings activated only ever 2 times daily had been fixed. And foot crossings now added properly and securely.

So my question is. What is actually happening here? Is there even a station to be built? Or is the connectivity of this are just something brushed over? Attached is the document from 2022 citing the line (nevermind. Access is there on google) . Other than this I have no leads.

Thanks

It was only a long list of possible options. Never made the final DfT cut, like about 95% of the listed proposals in the ambitious ‘Restoring Your Railway’ lists. (That percentage is a guess, it’s probably on the low side.). I expect it’s dead as a local authority sponsored scheme, where would the money come from?

Also, it’s ‘Maid Marian line’ rather than Marion, which will help anyone with searching online.

The DfT pulled it in this 2022 document, on page 15:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62d6c9e6d3bf7f28583b0179/restoring-your-railway-programme-update.pdf

 

[OverlordBWT]

It was only a long list of possible options. Never made the final DfT cut, like about 95% of the listed proposals in the ambitious ‘Restoring Your Railway’ lists. (That percentage is a guess, it’s probably on the low side.). I expect it’s dead as a local authority sponsored scheme, where would the money come from?

Also, it’s ‘Maid Marian line’ rather than Marion, which will help anyone with searching online.

The DfT pulled it in this 2022 document, on page 15:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62d6c9e6d3bf7f28583b0179/restoring-your-railway-programme-update.pdf

Ah right. Its seeing passenger operations 2 times daily despite it having no stations. So was looking into it. So thanks

 

[DarloRich]

who was the letter from? That restoring your railways thing was basically a PR puff piece by the Conservatives to buy votes. Many of the ideas were silly, unrealistic and impractical.

 

[The exile]

Ah right. Its seeing passenger operations 2 times daily despite it having no stations. So was looking into it. So thanks

What passenger operations - I can see 3 empty stock workings today but nothing more passenger-y than that.

 

[OverlordBWT]

What passenger operations - I can see 3 empty stock workings today but nothing more passenger-y than that.

Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse act pass at Pinxton usually 6 55 ¾

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2025 ==

who was the letter from? That restoring your railways thing was basically a PR puff piece by the Conservatives to buy votes. Many of the ideas were silly, unrealistic and impractical.

Unfortunately no idea. But the locals did generally want a station for a while from what I know

 

[driverd]

That restoring your railways thing was basically a PR puff piece by the Conservatives to buy votes. Many of the ideas were silly, unrealistic and impractical.

...to reopen the Maid Marion Line and add a station offering four trains per hour in the Bolsover village of Pinxton...

I think this is all you need to see here (this isn't meant to be condescending, to non-rail people 4tph may seem half sensible).

 

[The exile]

Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse act pass at Pinxton usually 6 55 ¾

That appears to be a Class 5 service (like the one about an hour before and the one last thing at night) which as far as I am aware is therefore empty coaching stock.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Also, it’s ‘Maid Marian line’ rather than Marion, which will help anyone with searching online.

Just to clarify, where is it? Somewhere in Nottinghamshire?

 

[swt_passenger]

Just to clarify, where is it? Somewhere in Nottinghamshire?

Alfreton to Ashfield, as far as I can tell from the DfT list. That may be a simplification, ie from a junction ‘somewhere south of Alfreton’ to Ashfield in a wider sense but Kirkby in Ashfield to be exact?

 

[bluenoxid]

It felt at the time that it was all things to all people. My impression is that the line would be used to improve connectivity for Mansfield and areas on the route with the HS2 station serving the East Midlands either the Hub at Toton or Parkway. This area would have had HS2 running through it if it had run through to Yorkshire, so it would have helped demonstrate local benefits.

 

[DarloRich]

It felt at the time that it was all things to all people. My impression is that the line would be used to improve connectivity for Mansfield and areas on the route with the HS2 station serving the East Midlands either the Hub at Toton or Parkway. This area would have had HS2 running through it if it had run through to Yorkshire, so it would have helped demonstrate local benefits.

I get entirely it is very attractive to the local communities - there just has to be a "bigger picture" view in all this

 

[zwk500]

Alfreton to Ashfield, as far as I can tell from the DfT list. That may be a simplification, ie from a junction ‘somewhere south of Alfreton’ to Ashfield in a wider sense but Kirkby in Ashfield to be exact?

Presumably then it's the current freight link from Kirkby-in-Ashfield to Pye Bridge Junction

(Screenshot from OpenRailwayMap of the area).

That's what the local council page suggests:https://www.ashfield.gov.uk/plannin...al-plan/station-masterplans-maid-marian-line/

A proposal has been developed to re-open the existing freight line between the Robin Hood Line at Kirkby-in-Ashfield and the Erewash Valley Line to passenger trains. The line would be renamed the Maid Marian Line.

 

[OverlordBWT]

Just to clarify, where is it? Somewhere in Nottinghamshire?

Yes. On the border between notts and derby

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2025 ==

I get entirely it is very attractive to the local communities - there just has to be a "bigger picture" view in all this

Connectivity i think just between everywhere as the area as a whole lacks any form of consistent public transport

 

[ChrisC]

It felt at the time that it was all things to all people. My impression is that the line would be used to improve connectivity for Mansfield and areas on the route with the HS2 station serving the East Midlands either the Hub at Toton or Parkway. This area would have had HS2 running through it if it had run through to Yorkshire, so it would have helped demonstrate local benefits.

If HS2 had not been cancelled through the East Midlands, I could see a link from the Mansfield area to a HS2 station at Toton as being quite viable. This would have used the line between Kirkby and Ashfield and Pye Bridge Junction which passes through Pinxton. Without HS2 I can’t see opening the route to regular passenger trains to Nottingham or Derby as being in any way viable.

Mansfield has a population of approx 110,000, Sutton in Ashfield 36,000, Kirkby in Ashfield 27,000 and Hucknall 32,000 and that’s not also adding the populations of some sizeable surrounding ex mining villages. Considering the very large population of the area, the Monday to Friday service between Mansfield and Nottingham on the Robin Hood has still not been restored to its pre covid level of 2tph and I don’t think in the current economic situation it will. If a town the size of Mansfield and surrounding areas on the Robin Hood Line can only have 1tph there isn’t much of a case for opening the line through Pinxton.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

If HS2 had not been cancelled through the East Midlands, I could see a link from the Mansfield area to a HS2 station at Toton as being quite viable. This would have used the line between Kirkby and Ashfield and Pye Bridge Junction which passes through Pinxton. Without HS2 I can’t see opening the route to regular passenger trains to Nottingham or Derby as being in any way viable.

Mansfield has a population of approx 110,000, Sutton in Ashfield 36,000, Kirkby in Ashfield 27,000 and Hucknall 32,000 and that’s not also adding the populations of some sizeable surrounding ex mining villages. Considering the very large population of the area, the Monday to Friday service between Mansfield and Nottingham on the Robin Hood has still not been restored to its pre covid level of 2tph and I don’t think in the current economic situation it will. If a town the size of Mansfield and surrounding areas on the Robin Hood Line can only have 1tph there isn’t much of a case for opening the line through Pinxton.

I'm always slightly puzzled by how poorly the Robin Hood line is doing. Most reopenings over the past few decades have far exeded the forecast passenger numbers. On paper the Robin Hood looks like it should have followed the same pattern, yet the reverse seems the case.

I'm not familiar with the area but I'm guessing there must be local factors leading to what looks like a comparative failure. I'm sure it's a useful service for those who use it, I'm just surprised there are so few of them.

 

[OverlordBWT]

I'm always slightly puzzled by how poorly the Robin Hood line is doing. Most reopenings over the past few decades have far exeded the forecast passenger numbers. On paper the Robin Hood looks like it should have followed the same pattern, yet the reverse seems the case.

I'm not familiar with the area but I'm guessing there must be local factors leading to what looks like a comparative failure. I'm sure it's a useful service for those who use it, I'm just surprised there are so few of them.

The stations are in the middle of nowhere. Newstead and Sutton parkway and Shirebrook are useless as there are more convenient stations. And if you live in any other area you just drive. Incentives not there

 

[soccermad]

Just seen this thread.

The Worksop to Mansfield Woodhouse section used to be 1 tph M-F but for the last two years there are two hour gaps in services calling at Whitwell and Cresswell (alternate trains) It is 2tph between Mansfield Woodhouse and Nottingham at the south end of the Robin Hood Line. (No Sunday service north of Mansfield Woodhouse)

When questioned about the skip stopping at Whitwell and Cresswell EMR have blamed the single track section south of Hucknall f
( accommodating the NET network on this section which used to be double track.) or causing delays to serviceswhich seems to be a total red herring

The rail services are very underutilised partly due to the previously mentioned remote stations, poor experiences with cancellations and thus 2 / 3 hours between trains are possible.

Sheffield and Nottingham are the major local destinations, getting to /from Sheffield involves changing trains at Worksop (with often long waits between 'connecting' services.)
Almost everyone who has a car would much rather drive to Sheffield or Nottingham from any of the villages / towns on the Robin Hood Line

 

[duffield]

Just seen this thread.

The Worksop to Mansfield Woodhouse section used to be 1 tph M-F but for the last two years there are two hour gaps in services calling at Whitwell and Cresswell (alternate trains) It is 2tph between Mansfield Woodhouse and Nottingham at the south end of the Robin Hood Line. (No Sunday service north of Mansfield Woodhouse)

When questioned about the skip stopping at Whitwell and Cresswell EMR have blamed the single track section south of Hucknall f
( accommodating the NET network on this section which used to be double track.) or causing delays to serviceswhich seems to be a total red herring

The rail services are very underutilised partly due to the previously mentioned remote stations, poor experiences with cancellations and thus 2 / 3 hours between trains are possible.

Sheffield and Nottingham are the major local destinations, getting to /from Sheffield involves changing trains at Worksop (with often long waits between 'connecting' services.)
Almost everyone who has a car would much rather drive to Sheffield or Nottingham from any of the villages / towns on the Robin Hood Line

It's worse than you think. When you say

It is 2tph between Mansfield Woodhouse and Nottingham at the south end of the Robin Hood Line.

It's actually not. Monday to Friday, apart from a handful of peak hour extras it's 1tph, the second train has never been restored post-covid. Only Saturday has the pre-covid 2tph from Mansfield Woodhouse to Nottingham. And the service is not getting restored at the December timetable change.

(Incidentally, being of a juvenile bent of mind, every time Mansfield Woodhouse is mentioned I think of a huge but harmless crustacean, known as "The Mansfield Woodlouse").

 

[OverlordBWT]

Just seen this thread.

The Worksop to Mansfield Woodhouse section used to be 1 tph M-F but for the last two years there are two hour gaps in services calling at Whitwell and Cresswell (alternate trains) It is 2tph between Mansfield Woodhouse and Nottingham at the south end of the Robin Hood Line. (No Sunday service north of Mansfield Woodhouse)

When questioned about the skip stopping at Whitwell and Cresswell EMR have blamed the single track section south of Hucknall f
( accommodating the NET network on this section which used to be double track.) or causing delays to serviceswhich seems to be a total red herring

The rail services are very underutilised partly due to the previously mentioned remote stations, poor experiences with cancellations and thus 2 / 3 hours between trains are possible.

Sheffield and Nottingham are the major local destinations, getting to /from Sheffield involves changing trains at Worksop (with often long waits between 'connecting' services.)
Almost everyone who has a car would much rather drive to Sheffield or Nottingham from any of the villages / towns on the Robin Hood Line

The line is so unused for the area. Speaking to my partner who used the line once is that its empty. The villages the Marion Line follows are Connected by an hourly bus that gets to Nottingham every one and a half hours and people have been needing the change for so long it's unreal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

It's worse than you think. When you say

It's actually not. Monday to Friday, apart from a handful of peak hour extras it's 1tph, the second train has never been restored post-covid. Only Saturday has the pre-covid 2tph from Mansfield Woodhouse to Nottingham. And the service is not getting restored at the December timetable change.

(Incidentally, being of a juvenile bent of mind, every time Mansfield Woodhouse is mentioned I think of a huge but harmless crustacean, known as "The Mansfield Woodlouse").

Its terrible it sucks. The state of that line is a hot bag of ass.

 

[JollyGood02]

A large reason that the Robin Hood line isn't doing as well was you'd think is because the largest market (Mansfield - Nottingham) is taken up by the pronto bus service which is 6x more frequent, more than half the price and takes people to the part of Nottingham where they actually want to go. Sutton and Kirkby are also served by The Threes bus. Though it takes much longer than the train it is both cheaper, much more frequent and doesn't drop people off right at the edge of the town

The northern half is a bit pointless with poor connectivity at Worksop, Shirebrook station is right on the edge of the town and langwith and cresswell are very small localities. The tram also massively impacts numbers to Bulwell and Hucknall. (Bulwell dropped from 104,000 in 03-04 to 62,000 the following period. Hucknall dropped 60,000 in the same period but steadily recovered prior to covid.

The line has a lot of factors stacked against it and any extensions are probably very unlikely likewise with the return to 2tph, especially with the current £3 bus fare cap

 

[OverlordBWT]

A large reason that the Robin Hood line isn't doing as well was you'd think is because the largest market (Mansfield - Nottingham) is taken up by the pronto bus service which is 6x more frequent, more than half the price and takes people to the part of Nottingham where they actually want to go. Sutton and Kirkby are also served by The Threes bus. Though it takes much longer than the train it is both cheaper, much more frequent and doesn't drop people off right at the edge of the town

The northern half is a bit pointless with poor connectivity at Worksop, Shirebrook station is right on the edge of the town and langwith and cresswell are very small localities. The tram also massively impacts numbers to Bulwell and Hucknall. (Bulwell dropped from 104,000 in 03-04 to 62,000 the following period. Hucknall dropped 60,000 in the same period but steadily recovered prior to covid.

The line has a lot of factors stacked against it and any extensions are probably very unlikely likewise with the return to 2tph, especially with the current £3 bus fare cap

Would also like to add to this the nottsbus connect and rainbow one that connect every town near it and the only town they dont go through is Newstead which ironically has the Deadest station in terms of passenger numbers