Victorian viaduct to undergo £7.5m upgrade

A landmark railway viaduct spanning a Derbyshire valley is set to undergo a £7.5m refurbishment.

One of the 160-year-old twin viaducts at Chapel Milton, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, will be improved by Network Rail between now and the autumn.

The Victorian structure allows two freight lines to transport about 25,000 tonnes of stone, cement and limestone a day across the Black Brook Valley from four Peak District quarries.

David Hunter, from Network Rail, said it required a "modern touch to make sure freight trains can pass over it safely and efficiently for generations to come".

He added: "Each train takes about 76 wagons off the roads.

"The longevity of the viaduct is essential to the success of the economy and reducing the carbon footprint of the construction sector."

Preparatory work has already begun ahead of the main upgrade project, which will include repairing brickwork, installing handrails and guardrails to improve safety for workers and strengthening the structure.

The Great Rocks line will close between 29 August and 7 September while the track is removed and replaced by contractor AmcoGiffen.

The first line of the Chapel Milton Viaduct was opened in 1867 for trains from London St Pancras to and from Manchester, with the second fork towards Sheffield operational from 1890.

It was built for passenger services, but is now used for freight.

Residents are being invited to an information event between 16:00 and 19:00 BST on Wednesday at Chinley Chapel to find out more about the work and its impact on the community.

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