Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 'on track' to open to Duffield in Spring 2011

The EVR are on course to open the remaining 5 miles of track between Idridgehay and Duffield.

This is a press release from the company:

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The End of a Ten-Year Journey

Golden Sleeper Marks Conclusion of Mammoth Project and Signals Green Light
for Spring Reopening

Hazelwood, 21st September 2010: On a beautiful autumnal day, 25 volunteers
gathered a few hundred yards south of Hazelwood station to witness the
laying of the ‘Golden Sleeper’, the final sleeper to be changed in the
restoration of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway between Wirksworth and
Duffield.

Clearance of what had become a completely overgrown railway commenced just
under ten years ago in November 2000 and today’s ceremony marks the
conclusion of an exercise that has resulted in the replacement of nearly
5,000 sleepers, the construction or reconstruction of six station platforms,
repair of 20 miles of fencing and the digging of innumerable drainage
ditches and culverts.

“We are absolutely delighted” remarked Phil Tarry, Project Director for the
restoration project. “This has been a very long journey for us all and to
complete this seemingly never-ending task is a wonderful feeling, especially
when we realise that this one act brings puts our full reopening to Duffield
on-track for next Spring” he added.

The replacement of the Golden Sleeper represents the completion of the
hardest and most time-consuming part of the railway’s restoration. Although
several other tasks remain to be completed before the line can be opened,
this has represented the ‘critical path’ item and its completion means that
the railway is on track towards its opening in the Spring of 2011.

Neil Ferguson-Lee, the railway’s spokesman remarked: “The countdown has
started. We are now making preparations to reopen the remainder of the
railway for the Spring of next year. This now involves far more than
construction work: we have to build a timetable to connect with main line
services, organise through ticketing, publicity and, of greatest importance,
some exciting and welcoming trains for our visitors to experience. The next
railway to reopen in Derbyshire will be next Spring and it will be from
Duffield to Wirksworth!”

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The BBC produced this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-11384508

Keep an eye out on the website www.e-v-r.com as details will slowly start to emerge about how to book for the opening day, as well as information about the 2011 operating timetable, special events programme and fares.