Sinfin branch line
Encyclopedia
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The Sinfin branch line is a railway line in the Sinfin
Sinfin
Sinfin is a southern suburb of Derby, England, historically it was a separate village. It contained the main centre of Rolls-Royce, on Nightingale Road...
area of Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. It lies within the premises of Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
and other works sites. The line was opened by the British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
on 4 October 1976 and closed in 1998.
Melbourne Line
The line was originally double tracked (with various sidings) and stretched to Chellaston Junction with the Trent (Sheet Stores) JunctionTrent railway station
Trent railway station was situated near Long Eaton in Derbyshire at the junction of the Midland Railway line from London to Derby and Nottingham...
to Willington
Willington, Derbyshire
Willington is a village and civil parish in South Derbyshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 2,604.-Geography:Willington is on the River Trent about southwest of Derby...
line. Beyond this it carried on to Melbourne
Melbourne, Derbyshire
Melbourne is a Georgian market town in South Derbyshire, England. It is about 8 miles south of Derby and 2 miles from the River Trent. In 1837 a then tiny settlement in Australia was named after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister, and thus indirectly takes...
. This original line closed in 1930.
Sinfin Branch Line
The line reopened on 4 October 1976 as Derby City Council's attempt to copy the new Cross City Line in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The service was poorly used because of the time of the last train and because it was served by only four trains per day. The service interworked with the Derwent Valley Line
Derwent Valley Line
The Derwent Valley Line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire.The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.*Derby*Duffield**Former branch line...
to Matlock
Matlock railway station
Matlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
.
The service was reduced to a single early morning service in 1992.
The last train ran on in 21 May 1993, due to the incompatibility of the existing signalling system with Sprinters
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
. The single service was replaced with a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
that ran from Derby railway station. On 2 May 1997 the line became part of the Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
franchise on the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
, but no Central Trains services ever used the line. On 6 November 1997 Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising
Director of Passenger Rail Franchising
The Director of Passenger Rail Franchising is a statutory office created in 1993 by the Railways Act 1993 and usually called the Franchising Director...
proposed the closure of the line. This was granted on 21 May 1998 by the Rail Regulator
Rail Regulator
The Rail Regulator was a statutory office, created with effect from 1 December 1993 by section 1 of the Railways Act 1993, for the independent economic regulation of the British railway industry....
John Swift QC.
Despite the line's closure the timetable continued to be called Sinfin-Derby to Matlock until the May 2001 timetable change and the train that used to run the line terminated at Peartree railway station
Peartree railway station
Peartree railway station is a railway station serving the districts of Pear Tree, Normanton and Osmaston in the city of Derby, England. It is one of only two stations remaining open in the city other than the main Derby Midland Station, and is situated about one mile south of there on the main line...
until May 2001.
The line had two stations: Sinfin North
Sinfin North railway station
Sinfin North Station was a railway station on the Sinfin branch in Derby. It opened on 4 October 1976 and closed on 17 May 1993. After closure, a service was provided by a taxi until 1998....
and Sinfin Central
Sinfin Central railway station
Sinfin Central station was in the Sinfin area of the city of Derby, Derbyshire, England.The station was on the former line between and , which had closed in 1930. On 4 October 1976 a new unstaffed station was opened with a passenger service to serve the nearby Rolls-Royce factory...
.
Current status
The line survives as a freight line serving the Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
plant with a 0926 Thursdays only freight train carrying aviation fuel
Aviation fuel
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperatures,...
. Both platforms still exist, although Sinfin North railway station
Sinfin North railway station
Sinfin North Station was a railway station on the Sinfin branch in Derby. It opened on 4 October 1976 and closed on 17 May 1993. After closure, a service was provided by a taxi until 1998....
has become overgrown. The is occasional talk of reopening the line and extending it into Chellaston
Chellaston
Chellaston is a suburb of the City of Derby, which is in the East Midlands in England in the United Kingdom. It is on a natural hill, and has recently expanded due to several new housing estates....
and onto East Midlands Airport but these look unlikely in the near future. As part of the closure decision neither station could be demolished until 21 May 2008.