Further passenger disruption as Manchester to Sheffield railway line to remain closed for another month

However Network Rail has issued an update on the repairs, which are taking place around New Mills. Following a landslip, engineers have been working at the scene since April to stabilise the earth that supports the railway.

Originally, the line was due to reopen on Sunday, August 25. However during the work engineers discovered more extensive and complex issues with drainage. To tackle this, five state-of-the-art drainage chambers will be built under the railway to collect excess water and direct it to the nearby River Goyt.

As a result of the need to carry out this work, the railway now needs to be closed until September 23. The closure means there will be some changes to services in the area, with a bus replacement running between Marple and Chinley station.

Vitesh Solanki, Network Rail’s scheme project manager, said: “I’m sorry for the disruption the rail closure will cause passengers. We have received a tremendous welcome from the community in New Mills and we are grateful for your patience while we carry out this important work. Please check National Rail enquiries for travel advice in August and September for services between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield.”

A spokesperson for Northern said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their patience while this important, safety-critical work is carried out by Network Rail. We’ll do everything we can to make sure customers can still get where they want to be – but they should allow more time for their journeys.”

Changes in services from Manchester to New Mills Central via Bredbury

• From Monday to Saturday there will be an hourly train service between Manchester Piccadilly and Marple. A bus service will run between Marple and Chinley. 
• On Sundays, an hourly bus service will run between Manchester Piccadilly, Bredbury, Marple and Chinley.
• Services between Chinley and Manchester Piccadilly continue to divert via Hazel Grove and Stockport, with a bus service between Chinley and Marple.