Our Work
Lichfield-Derby Line
Through substantial research, Transport for Britain have built a strong case for the re-introduction of passenger services between Lichfield and Derby through Burton-Upon Trent. A currently very under-utilised asset, with largely double track only being used for relatively sparse freight and empty stock movement.
The current local and regional connectivity is extremely poor, with the present options being a double change of trains with limited connections or to travel further south to Birmingham to pick up a northbound service. Furthermore, the existing train services on Derby-Burton-Birmingham route are overcrowded, with rail heading being very prevalent. This leaves the local population no option but to take alternative transport with bus times being slow and a very congested A38. The introduction of this line will cut journey times to Alrewas and Burton in half and reduce journey times from Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield to Derby and Nottingham by a third in some instances.
Alrewas Station
North bound Platform at Lichfield Trent Valley (currently out of use)
With a small investment in minor infrastructure projects including:
- the relocation of the Station at Alrewas,
- enhancing the signalling structure that is already in place,
- reinstating a Bay Platform at Burton-upon-Trent,
- extending the North bound Platform at Lichfield Trent Valley,
can mean that services would be up and running sooner than any other current plans. Improving connectivity and releasing capacity, as well as providing connections to the Northeast during phase 1 of HS2. For more on this please see our plans for Lichfield Trent Valley and HS2.
.
The social and economic benefits of the re-introduction of this passenger line are substantial. It would not only benefit businesses and long-distance leisure passengers but could also provide people with greater access to employment opportunities, leisure, healthcare and social services. There are plans in place for large housing estates to be built near Lichfield Trent Valley Station, as well as continuing development in Lichfield itself, supporting the need for vastly improved public transport in the area. Furthermore, it will give support to the increasing number of visitors at the National Memorial Arboretum (Currently 300,000 visitors per annum and increasing).
Transport for Britain proposes that the base of a Lichfield to Derby hourly service should be implemented immediately due to it having the fewest infrastructure interventions, with then the look to integrate with the extension of the Electric Cross City services when it is evidenced that the demand can support it.
Transport for Britain recently undertook a public survey on the Lichfield-Derby Line, to see the results please click here.