Matlock railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Matlock | |||
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|---|---|---|---|
| Location | |||
| Place | Matlock | ||
| Local authority | Derbyshire Dales | ||
| Operations | |||
| Station code | MAT | ||
| Managed by | East Midlands Trains | ||
| Platforms in use | |||
| Live departures and station information from National Rail | |||
| Annual Rail Passenger Usage | |||
| 2004/05 * | 92,333 | ||
| 2005/06 * | 91,435 | ||
| History | |||
| Key dates | Opened 1849 | ||
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
| * Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Matlock from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. | |||
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Matlock railway station is a railway station serving the town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is the terminus of the Derwent Valley Line from Derby.
The station is served by East Midlands Trains, who operate local services from Derby to Matlock. Services are formed using diesel multiple units of Classes 153, 156 or 158.
For journeys beginning at Matlock, tickets may be bought on the train for any destination in the country. (From Derby, tickets must be bought at the ticket office.) Journey time to Derby is approximately 31 minutes.
[edit] History
Leaving Matlock Bath, the line immediately passes into a series of tunnels, 321, 58 and 378 yards (346 m) long on the east side of the river, cut into the cliff side. Crossing the river, the line passes through Holt Tunnel (126 yards) before crossing the main A6 road, and entering Matlock Station. Being cut through limestone, these tunnels have required a deal of maintenance over the years.
Originally called "Matlock Bridge", it was opened by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway in 1849, the station buildings being designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, opening in 1850. The station is now grade 2 listed. Currently it acts as a single platform terminus. The former (down) side platform is disused, although plans are at an advanced stage for it to become the new terminus of heritage railway Peak Rail.
A double track railway line used to continue from Matlock via Bakewell and Millers Dale through to Buxton, Chinley and ultimately Manchester. Unfortunately this section of the former Midland Railway's main line to Manchester was closed to passengers in 1968 as a consequence of the Beeching cuts and the recent electrification of the West coast route from London Euston to Manchester. The last day of operation beyond Matlock was on Saturday 29 June 1968. Part of this route is now preserved as a heritage railway by the preservation group Peak Rail. At present, the heritage line operates from Rowsley South through Darley Dale and terminates at nearby Matlock Riverside, a distance of a little under four miles (6 km). However, there are plans to extend the line a further third of a mile into the Down platform of Matlock station. At present, the area around the station is changing dramatically, with a new footbridge crossing the lines above the current station buildings, changing forever the view from the station approach.
Work within the adjacent Cawdor Quarry is well advanced, with a new superstore opened in 2007, and several hundred new homes planned. Matlock bus station has also been relocated so as to be adjacent to the railway station, thus giving Matlock a true transport interchange.
The station building is occupied by a well stocked transport book shop.
[edit] External links
- Train times and station information for Matlock railway station from National Rail
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matlock Bath | East Midlands Trains Derwent Valley Line |
Terminus | ||
 Heritage railways |
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| Interchange with Matlock Riverside on Peak Rail | ||||
