Walking Forum
Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Peak District => Topic started by: Percy on 08:13:53, 30/09/17
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I happened across this petition about looking into reopening the railway line. This might be a bit divisive on here - it'd be a real boon to walkers who rely on public transport but others might object to a railway line reopening in a National Park. Anyway, I thought I'd post it so people can support it, or object, if they want.
https://www.change.org/p/commission-a-feasibility-study-into-the-re-opening-of-the-matlock-bakewell-and-buxton-railway/nftexp/ex5/v4/47967635?recruiter=47967635&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=autopublish&utm_content=ex5%3Av4 (https://www.change.org/p/commission-a-feasibility-study-into-the-re-opening-of-the-matlock-bakewell-and-buxton-railway/nftexp/ex5/v4/47967635?recruiter=47967635&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=autopublish&utm_content=ex5%3Av4)
A lot of these decommission lines end up as walking trails but I don't know if this one has. Anyone?
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Interesting... I presume the route of the line is the one that now forms the Monsal Trail from just outside Buxton across to Bakewell. If so it would mean the loss of a hugely popular cycling and walking trail in the national park.
I suppose there are cases to be made on both sides. If they were going to do anything, I'd prefer they extended the Monsal Trail into Buxton somehow or at least connected it with a direct footpath. It has been discussed by the council planning department in the past, although nothing has come of that.
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I've looked at the petition and despite 10k having signed it, I will not be adding my name.
IMO the closure of the railway line 50 years ago was a colossal error but to now reopen it would only compound the earlier mistake bearing in mind the popularity of the Monsal Traul and the amount of work which has been carried out to adapt it for recreational use.
Quite possibly it would be feasible to have a single line railway running alongside a narrowed trail but that would destroy the tranquility of the trail. How much use would be made of the railway? The station at Bakewell was some distance from the town.
Sure it could be useful as a diversionary route to Manchester from the south but that would mean additionally reinstating the Tunstead to Chinley line and if HS2 is built there would be surplus capacity on the Euston to Manchester line.
An additional factor is the presence of a heritage railway from Matlock to Rowsley which would be incompatible with the running of a modern railway on the same tracks.
A non starter I reckon.
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A non starter I reckon.
I agree. I didn't add my name to the petition either.