Editing Hope Valley line (section)

==History==
===Sheffield and Midland Joint Section===
This section was built by the [[Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee]] as part of the [[Midland Railway]]'s drive to reach Manchester with its line from [[London]] via {{rws|Ambergate}} and {{rws|Millers Dale}}. Initially, in 1867, it joined the [[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway]] at [[Hyde North railway station|Hyde Junction]], running into [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester London Road]], but in 1875 a more direct route was built through {{rws|Bredbury}}. When {{rws|Manchester Central}} was opened by the [[Cheshire Lines Committee]], a new line was built through {{rws|Heaton Mersey}}. This third route was closed along with Manchester Central, apart from the section through [[Disley Tunnel]] to {{rws|Hazel Grove}}, where it now joins the old [[London and North Western Railway|LNWR]] line into {{rws|Stockport}}.

===Dore and Chinley===
In 1872, the Midland Railway's only route from Sheffield to Manchester was via Ambergate. It had originally proposed a line to run from Dore to [[Hassop]], meeting its extension from [[Rowsley]] to {{rws|Buxton}}. However, the "Dore and Chinley Railway" was floated independently in 1872 and, unsuccessfully, until the Midland took an interest, since it would provide a more direct route, connecting through Chinley into Manchester.{{sfn|Joy|1984|p=171}} The line was authorised in 1884 and work began in 1888.{{sfn|Joy|1984|p=267}}

The {{convert|21|mi|km|0|adj=on}} line took five years to build, opening to goods traffic in November 1893, with passenger traffic being carried from June 1894.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Body |first1=Geoffrey |title=Railways of the Eastern Region. Vol. 1, Southern operating area |date=1986 |publisher=Guild Publishing |location=London |isbn=0850597129 |page=142}}</ref> The terrain through [[Hope Valley, Derbyshire|Hope Valley]] and the [[Vale of Edale]] was easy enough by Midland standards, but at each end there were formidable obstacles, negotiated by means of the [[Totley Tunnel|Totley]] and [[Cowburn Tunnel]]s.

===20th century===
At the time of the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching review]], the line was running in competition with the recently modernised and faster [[Woodhead Line]] and its closure was suggested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1965/jul/27/passenger-services-proposed-closures|title = Passenger Services (Proposed Closures) (Hansard, 27 July 1965)}}</ref> On appeal, British Rail was required to keep the Hope Valley line open to passenger traffic; it was decided that the [[Woodhead line|Woodhead route]] would be closed to passenger traffic instead<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackledge |first1=Richard |title=Take an 'armchair journey' through the Peak District by rail with book's fascinating pictures – Beauty and strategic importance – these are the watchwords of the Hope Valley railway line between Sheffield and Manchester |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Hope%20valley%20line%22&docref=news/17A83CE52D9FB3E8 |access-date=4 July 2020 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=22 April 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and then subsequently to all traffic in 1981, due to the high cost of further upgrading the line to modern standards.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2018 |title=Closing Woodhead line a total disgrace |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/closing-woodhead-line-a-total-disgrace-438528 |work=Sheffield Star |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The end of the Woodhead line 40 years on |url=https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/news/glossop-chronicle/the-end-of-the-woodhead-line-40-years-on/ |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=Quest Media Network }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Woodhead Electric|url=https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-simulator/articles/article/the-woodhead-electric |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=live.dovetailgames.com }}</ref>

===Metrolink proposals===
In the early 1980s, proposals were put forward to convert the Piccadilly–Belle Vue–Rose Hill/Marple section of the Hope Valley line to light rail operation for the proposed [[Manchester Metrolink]] system. While construction of Metrolink went ahead, the Hope Valley line was not included in the system which was completed in 1992.<ref name="metrolink">{{citation |author=Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive |title=Light Rapid Transit in Greater Manchester |publisher=GMPTE |year=1984}} – publicity brochure</ref> When in 2000, proposals for a large-scale extension of Metrolink were announced by the government, these still did not include conversion of the Hope Valley line; but, subsequently, planning documents from [[Network Rail]] and from the [[Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority]] have suggested that this route might be appropriate for [[tram-train]] operation, and, as such, it was suggested to the [[Department for Transport]] as a possible location for a national tram-train pilot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tram Trains Mooted for Glossop Line by TfGM for 2020+ Onwards |url=http://www.friends-of-glossop-station.co.uk/1/post/2013/11/tram-trains-mooted-for-glossop-line-by-tfgm-for-2020-onwards.html |access-date=9 June 2022 |website=Friends Of Glossop Station }}</ref>

===2019 closure===
On 1 August 2019, the line was closed between Marple and Sheffield amid fears that the dam at [[Toddbrook Reservoir]] would collapse, following heavy rain, which would flood the town of [[Whaley Bridge]]. The [[Buxton line]], between Hazel Grove and Buxton, was also closed because of this. The line was re-opened on 7 August 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/227802.aspx|title=National Rail Enquiries – Service Alteration Details|website=www.nationalrail.co.uk|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
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