Work is to commence on a £145 million rail reliability upgrade between Manchester and Sheffield.

The work will remove several bottlenecks on the Hope Valley line to allow passenger trains to overtake slower freight trains and improve reliability, helping people get to their destinations on time.

On Sunday 29 May, and every weekend throughout July, Dore & Totley, Grindleford, Bamford and Hathersage stations will be closed to allow Network Rail and contractor VolkerRailStory Joint Venture to begin building an additional railway line and make key station improvements.

Passengers are being urged to plan ahead with National Rail to keep their journeys on track.

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The work is part of a £145m package of improvement and includes:

• A new platform and accessible footbridge with lifts at Dore & Totley station

• A railway loop between Bamford and Hathersage

• A new overbridge at Hathersage West, replacing the current foot crossing to improve safety

• Signalling improvements along the line to improve reliability

• Platform extensions to allow for more carriages on services.

Dore & Totley station car park will also be partially and fully closed at different periods over the next three months. Alternative parking spaces will be available at Abbeydale Sports Club and local businesses will remain open and accessible throughout.

Hannah Lomas, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: "We're so pleased to see this major work begin – it’ll make Hope Valley stations and train services better, and improve reliability for passengers in the future.

"There will be some changes to services and car park closures while our work takes place, so I'd like to thank passengers for bearing with us and apologise for any inconvenience."