Rail upgrades to disrupt January travel

Upgrades are set to cause disruption for East Midlands Railway (EMR) passengers travelling to or from Sheffield this month as Network Rail undertakes five days of engineering work.
From Monday, 6 January to Friday 10 January, work between Dore & Totley and Sheffield will replace decades-old tracks, improving train journeys and reducing noise while preventing future speed restrictions.
During the works, Sheffield to London St Pancras services will be reduced to one train per hour, rerouted via Beighton with stops at Chesterfield. Another service will begin at Derby.
Northbound trains from London will terminate at Derby, with rail replacement buses connecting Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield.
Nottingham to Liverpool services will bypass Sheffield and Chesterfield, stopping instead at smaller stations like Ilkeston and Alfreton.
Matlock to Nottingham routes will require a change at Derby to continue.
Philippa Cresswell, customer service director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused while these vital improvements take place between Monday 6 – Friday 10 January 2025.
“We urge all customers to plan and check their journey details before setting off. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we work towards a better, more efficient railway network for everyone.”
Jason Hamilton, Network Rail route director, said: “We thank passengers for their patience while we deliver these vital track upgrades. The work will bring smoother journeys and, longer term, it will avoid the need for a speed restriction which would cause greater passenger disruption.”