Ripley Branch to be reopened?
 

On this mornings East Midlands BBC News a consortium plans to reopen the old Midland Railway branch from Breadsall north of Derby to Ripley to run commuter trains.

Would it be feasible? The trackbed is still intact complete with rails over most of its length but there are eight level crossings over its less than ten mile length - admittedly all except one across minor roads.

It is still, I believe, connected to the main line but only the up goods.

I wonder if it would be possible to go on to Butterley and the Midland Railway Centre.

I certainly hope that they do reopen the branch line. I myself live in the town of Ripley. It would be so useful to many people. Those want to go shopping in Derby's Westfield Centre or going to see the rams on a saturday afternoon.
Does anybody know a website which gives more information about the proposition?

No. I've been looking but its not even on the BBC website yet.

Sounds good to see branch line being re opened.........

Try looking for the trackbed on Google Earth I can't find any track at all on any route out of Derby except the mainlines North OR any track South from Ripley but found some trackbed and it HAS been built on

It's still shown on Quail as far as Denby and you can see it diverging away from the main line as you travel just north of Derby.

However it is so overgrown that it would be difficult to spot it on Google Earth. Look for level crossings, and on Streetview.

I believe the original Ripley station was in a cutting which has been filled in however. I guess it would have to terminate at Marehay.

North of the station the trackbed I believe is a footpath.

This is how it used to run:

Have just found this. Although I like the idea, this article seems more than a little fanciful.

Rail News : Proposal-for-new-derbyshire-passenger-line/

As I pay Council Tax to the Amber Valley, I look forward to the consultation!

It will be an interesting line to opperate with all the level crossings, especially as some are close together. I have seen a video of a frieght train closing two crossings at once while the gates are being opened and closed. I assume that they will have to install automatic barriers/lights to keep trafic flowing!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

OS Explorer map shows the track bed in tact as a footpath through Nuttals Park to Ripley town centre, so there may yet be hope.

Yes. To the north the track bed is a County Council footpath. I just wasnt sure about the length through Ripley station.

There is a description of operating the route in its later years in "Derby Trainman: 1990-94" by T. J. Helme.

A history of the line called "Rails to Ripley" by Howard Sprenger (who is/was a leading light at the EVR) has just been published.

You can see many of the crossings on Streetview.