There is a Westbound freight looping facility at Earle's Sidings for 'non-Hope' trains, which is quite often used to hold empties returning to the Peak Forest line. Heeley Loop, south of Sheffield, is also often used.
The problem is that there is no corresponding Eastbound facility and moves in this direction are generally heavier, slower, loaded trains. Dore South Curve (and the loop at Earle's Sidings for that matter) are relatively short and restrict the length of some freights. Other enhancements (under the Strategic Freight Network programme) have improved capability for longer freights on the Chinley curves, Manton Junction and Sundon Loop between the Peak District and London. Longer trains will mean that fewer will be needed in future, giving a further capacity benefit.
In a recent interview in RAIL Magazine Martin Frobisher of Network Rail was reported as saying that the Hope Valley capacity scheme had slipped from Control Period 5 to Control Period 6 so we may well be looking at a date well into the 2020s for the full fruits of passenger and freight service improvement.
