- Matlock railway station
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Matlock 
Location Place Matlock Local authority Derbyshire Dales Operations Station code MAT Managed by East Midlands Trains Number of platforms 2 Live arrivals/departures and station information
from National Rail EnquiriesAnnual rail passenger usage 2004/05 * 92,333 2005/06 * 
91,4352006/07 * 
91,8082007/08 * 92,9412008/09 * 110,5482009/10 * 155,536History Opened 1849 National Rail - UK railway stations A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z * Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Matlock from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Please note: methodology may vary year on year. 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 services to Rowsley South. Both lines are formed from portions of the Midland Railway's main former line to Manchester. Through running is technically possible but is not done in normal service.
Contents
History
Leaving Matlock Bath, the line immediately passes into a series of tunnels, 321 yards (294 m), 58 yd (53 m) and 378 yd (346 m) long on the east side of the river, cut into the cliff side. Crossing the river and the main A6 road, the line passes through Holt Lane Tunnel (126 yd/115 m) before entering Matlock Station. Being cut through limestone, these tunnels have required a deal of maintenance over the years.
Originally called "Matlock Bridge", it was opened by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway in 1849, the station buildings being designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, opening in 1850. The station is now grade 2 listed. until now, it acted as a single platform terminus until the former (down) side platform 2 reopened on 2 July 2011 allowing the use of trains of the preserved Peak Rail service to operate into Matlock itself.
A double track railway line used to continue from Matlock via Bakewell and Millers Dale, with a branch to Buxton, and on through Peak Forest to Chinley and ultimately Manchester. This section of the former Midland Railway's main line to Manchester was closed to passengers in 1968 (the same year mainline steam came to an end) as a consequence of the Beeching cuts and the recent electrification of the West coast route from London Euston to Manchester.
The last day of operation beyond Matlock was on Saturday 29 June 1968 (two months before regular mainline steam was fully abolished). Part of this route is now preserved as a heritage railway by the railway preservation group Peak Rail. At present, the heritage line operates from Rowsley South through Darley Dale and nearby Matlock Riverside and now terminates at Matlock station in the Down platform (2), a distance of a little under five miles (6 km). Having, (from 2 July 2011 onward), extended a further third of a mile into the Down platform (2) of the Main station itself, Matlock is now (currently) the terminus of the heritage line, interchanging with rail services on the Derwent Valley Line.[1]
Recent History
Before 2004, former train operating company Midland Mainline ran through services into London St Pancras.
Work within the adjacent Cawdor Quarry has resulted in a new superstore for Matlock being opened in 2007, and several hundred new homes are planned to be located nearby. Matlock bus station has also been relocated so as to be adjacent to the railway station, thus giving Matlock a true transport interchange. In the year 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 journeys from the station had increased by 40.70%.[2]
The station building is occupied by Peak Rail's well stocked transport book shop.
The full range of tickets for travel for any destination in the country are purchased from the guard on the train at no extra cost, however in June 2009, an automatic ticket machine was installed on the platform, enabling passengers to buy or collect tickets bought in advance.
From 2 July 2011 onward, Peak Rail now operate steam trains into the "now fully restored 'down' platform (2) having signing a fifty year lease with Network Rail on Christmas Eve 2008 "almost 3 years before".[3] Reconnection of tracks have been made, the Down Platform rehabilitation is now complete, with the section finally re-opened on Saturday 2 July 2011.
Matlock station, 2005
Services
The station is served by East Midlands Trains Local, who operate an hourly service from Nottingham to Matlock (via Derby). Services are formed using diesel multiple units of Classes 153, 156 or 158.
Preceding station 
National RailFollowing station East Midlands Trains Terminus 
Heritage railwaysTerminus Peak Rail Matlock Riverside Historical railways Matlock Bath
Line and station openMidland Railway
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction RailwayDarley Dale
Line and station openReferences
- ^ "Photo: Peak Rail engine alongside East Midlands train". Railway Herald. July 2011. http://www.railwayherald.org/imaging.centre/showimage.php?image=199970. Retrieved September 2011.
- ^ "Record Growth on the Derwent Valley Line". September 2010. http://www.fdvl.org.uk/. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
- ^ "Between the Lines - News>25th February 2009>MATLOCK". Peak Rail. 2009. http://www.peakrail.co.uk/news.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-16.[dead link]
External links
- Train times and station information for Matlock railway station from National Rail
Categories:- Grade II listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Railway stations in Derbyshire
- Former Midland Railway stations
- Railway stations opened in 1849
- Railway stations closed in 1967
- Railway stations opened in 1972
- Railway stations served by East Midlands Trains
- DfT Category F1 stations
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