Friends of Dronfield Station

Posted 20th November, 2008:-

FoDS has set up the following provisional timetable for events on Sunday the 14th December:

08.30   Band set up on grass area immediate outside station entrance
08.45   Band plays as guests arrive
            ATC squadron invited to form ‘guard of honour’
09.00   Brief speeches by Natascha Engel, President of FoDS and Cllr Temple
09.06   Cllr Temple cuts ribbon across station entrance – photos etc
09.07   Band strikes up with appropriate rousing music
09.08   First train (southbound) arrives: ribbon restored for photo with train in platform
            Northern Rail representative welcomes Civic Party aboard the first train for
            journey to Chesterfield
09.10   Band continues to play for assembled guests
09.10   Hot food and drinks available from mobile catering outlet parked in turning circle
***************
10.17   Second train (southbound)
****************
10.45   Band plays to entertain guests for first northbound train
11.01   First train (northbound) arrives
11.19   Third train (southbound)
11.30   End of formal celebrations

Of course it's possible that the first train might be delayed (and hopefully not cancelled) and currently it's only going as far as Chesterfield as there are engineering works to the south of there. Watch this Space

Posted 20^th October, 2008:-

East Midland Trains have assured us that trains will be running again by 14^th December. Click here for their page.

Peter Hayward, Michael Muntus and Any Firth had a very successful visit to the Northern Rail Seminar on Saturday at the National Railway museum. Some good contacts were formed and Northern Rail were very impressed with the Dronfield Eye cover that showed a Class 158 in its new Dronfield environment. This picture (part of shown right), is available from The Council Offices in the Dronfield Civic Centre – All proceeds go to the Ashgate Hospice.

Thanks to Northern Rail for a great day.

Posted 23rd September, 2008:-

FoDS member Patrick Harrison has already spotted that December train times from Dronfield are now appearing on the National Rail Journey Planner (though Saturday's have yet to appear under the 12 week rule) once we have a full set we'll publicise them here, on the posters and by a mail-shot.

Keith Glossop and Paul Walker have also been at work calculating approximate journey times to various places. Click here to see a map.

Posted 30th August, 2008:-

The substitute bus services have been announced for the suspension of services 8/12/2008 to 13/12/2008. For bus substitution times click here

Posted 14th July, 2008:-

The station is beginning to look REALLY good with planters replanted, the hay racks, the new flower beds and finally the fence being painted. Thanks to all the volunteers, Millthorpe nursery, Dronfield Town Council and last but not least Northern Rail.

Posted 25th May, 2008:-

Northern Rail's Alan Hope gave a number of FoDS members a safety induction at the station and supplied Hi-Vis jackets. Safety inducted FoDS members have signed an undertaking to observe various rules when working on the station. After this, some of the members went on to begin clearing obstructive growth behind number 2 (Northbound or Up side) platform fence in preparation for fence preservative being applied in June.

Pictured hiding at the back on the right, Alan is also going to work up an agreement with Network Rail to permit us access to the ugly triangle of land next to the number 2 exit path in time for the Bradway tunnel engineering works (8th Sept - 12th Dec, 2008) that will see ALL service trains diverted via Killamarsh and the station effectively closed for that time - So just before the new service starts there will be no services for 3 months...C'EST LA VIE!.

Posted 23rd February, 2008:-

IT'S OFFICIAL - Northern Rail's new hourly - Nottingham - Leeds service will stop at Dronfield!!!

There will be trains throughout the day in both directions as well as Saturday and Sunday services.

An article in the Dronfield Eye for March announced what we had all been waiting for - here are some extracts:

The campaign to get a decent rail service for local people has been victorious with confirmation of a massive step-up in local services from later this year. From December, around 35 trains are expected to call at Dronfield each weekday - a huge improvement on the current patchy timetable of just ten trains a day. And there will be substantial Saturday and Sunday services too. The Government's Railways Minister Tom Harris has informed local MP Natascha Engel that there will be "significantly improved rail journeys for the benefit of Dronfield people". And Peter Hayward, chairman of Dronfield Station Action Group, told Dronfield Eye that what is being promised represents nothing short of the best railway service Dronfield will have ever enjoyed. It is understood that there will be an hourly service in each direction throughout the day... but local campaigners are hopeful of an even better outcome to their plea for action. The majority of the trains will be operated by Northern Rail - who leases Dronfield Station from National Rail. Until now the company has had none of its own trains stop in the town. Northern Rail is to run a new Leeds-Sheffield-Nottingham service which will have regular stops at Wakefield, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Chesterfield, Alfreton and Langley Mill in addition to Dronfield. Northern Rail has applied to the Office of Rail Regulation to operate this new service from December 2008. Said Northern Rail's client stakeholder manager Stuart Rands: "We are very keen to operate services in and out of Dronfield; in fact are desperate to run trains here because we believe there is massive potential. "We are pleased to be able to satisfy the main demands of the Dronfield Station Action Group and delighted that we are opening up our market through to Nottingham. The new route links Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield but it is equally about the communities in between.
"We are working towards introducing the new train service from December '08 but there are a number of industry requirements we have to work to and satisfy first. As soon as we get the green light we will be able to announce the timetables. "We have the people to run the service and are currently carrying out driver training on the route. Four units are available ready for when services start and the new route will be creating jobs as well with more drivers and conductors being recruited."
He explained that trains used would be comfortable long-distance type high-speed 90mph units complete with tables and air-conditioning.

Natascha Engel, our President, said:

"This is what so many people have been working towards for two years. I am absolutely delighted that trains are to stop regularly at Dronfield Station and this represents a real victory for the Dronfield Eye campaign, Dronfield Station Action Group members and The Friends of Dronfield Station.

"As a busy traveller myself, I know how frustrating the existing timetable has been and I am certain that Dronfield people will support the new service in their thousands.

"This campaign has been a real demonstration of how Parliament can sometimes make a difference at local level. The Action Group put together the details of the case for a better service, did surveys, met regularly and kept in touch with me every step of the way.

"I was happy to call an initial public meeting and take the case to the Railways Minister Tom Harris who then spoke to Northern Rail. Now he has told me the good news. It has taken two years to achieve but in the world of Government and railway companies that really is no time at all!

"It's great to see things working as they are meant to."

Dronfield Mayor, Coun Izzy Pryce said:

"This is really good news for our town and also a chance for more people from outside the area to discover Dronfield. "When most visitors arrive here for the first time they are very surprised to find what the town has to offer. "This rail service will give many more people an opportunity to come here for all sorts of reasons and discover what a nice town this is."

Timetable of Train Triumph

WHAT began as a comment in the Dronfield Eye magazine grew into the biggest debate in town, one which went on to reach the House of Commons. Now finally the protests of Dronfield people have been acted upon and the town has been promised a substantially improved rail service from December.

February 2006 - Dronfield Eye highlights anomalies in the new rail timetable for Dronfield commuters. You can travel directly to Newcastle but if you want to get to the next stop down the line in Chesterfield you can't get there until after lunch.

April 2006 - Eye reader Peter Hayward's famous letter to this magazine highlights Dronfield Station as the town's most under-used resource. The issue is not a lack of trains, he writes, because 140 pass through the station each weekday. The problem is hardly any of them stop! Peter urges Dronfield Eye to co-ordinate a campaign to get something done.

May 2006 - Dronfield Eye receives a deluge of letters from readers supporting Peter's views and our campaign is up and running.

June 2006 - Dronfield's Member of Parliament Natascha Engel adds her weight to the argument to get a better rail service for S18 commuters. "As someone who has to travel to London every week I know how frustrating it is to have a station in Dronfield which is of little use at all." she says. "It is time the rail authorities got together to provide a timetable to suit the needs of local people." Many more letters of support for our campaign are published.

July 2006 - The protest gathers steam when, through the pages of Dronfield Eye, Natascha Engel MP offers to host a public meeting to get to the bottom of the town's rail service problems.

August 2006 - Peter Hayward writes to Dronfield Eye once again, thanking the magazine and expressing his amazement at the response to his call for action. He reveals that the map advertising the new East Midlands franchise does not even show Dronfield! The public meeting takes place at Gosforth Lodge, attended by almost 100 residents who want a better deal.

September 2006 - Dronfield Station Action Group is up and running, comprising representatives of local councils, community groups and concerned local residents. Its main objective is to see a minimum hourly train service stopping at Dronfield throughout the day.

November 2006 - Campaigners visit Parliament to hear Natascha Engel MP question Railways Minister Tom Harris MP about what account is taken of the size of towns when determining the number of trains which stop there. He replies that there is a "genuine prospect" of Dronfield having a much improved service when a new Leeds-Nottingham service is introduced.

2006 - Dronfield Eye produces 1,000 'I'd rather be travelling by train from Dronfield' car stickers to support the Action Group's campaign.

January 2007 - The campaign scores its first significant victory with Dronfield Eye reproducing a letter from the Rail Minister to Natascha Engel MP promising a "significant increase" in the number of trains stopping - but not until December 2008. He says a proposed new Nottingham-Leeds service may give an hourly service at peak times and two-hourly stops off-peak.

March 2007 - Sheffield City Council adds its support along with The Campaign for the Preservation of Rural England and Transport 2000. An invitation is made for people to join the Friends of Dronfield Station.

April 2007 - Two representatives of station owners Northern Rail travel to Dronfield to meet campaigners and Natascha Engel MP and learn about their aims. The newly-formed Friends group names Dronfield Eye as its principal sponsor.

July 2007 - Dronfield Eye reports that the Friends nave successfully '"adopted" Dronfield Station and have begun working in partnership with Northern Rail. One of the group's first tasks is to remove several bags of rubbish from the surrounding area. August 2007 - The Forge depicts the railway station campaign in its annual well dressing. Action Group members meet with representatives of Stagecoach, the group which is to replace Midland Mainline in operating the East Midlands rail franchise. September 2007 - The Friends host their inaugural annual meeting at the Civic Hall with more than 100 people attending. Eight colourful flower tubs are installed at the station, thanks to the link-up between the Friends and Northern Rail.

October 2007 - Dronfield Eye reports on Peter Hayward's trip to a railways briefing at the House of Commons. "We need to keep lobbying to maintain the pressure," he says.

January 2008 - Paul Walker, Secretary of the Friends, tells Dronfield Eye readers of an important year ahead with the highlight likely to be the new Leeds-Nottingham service promising "regular" stops at Dronfield from December. "But we await the publication of the timetable to discover what 'regular' means," he warns.

February 2008 - We've won! Dronfield Eye breaks the news the whole town has been waiting for. Railways Minister Tom Harris confirms in a letter to Natascha Engel MP that with the introduction of a new Leeds-Nottingham service, from December 2008 Dronfield commuters can expect no fewer than 16 trains stopping in each direction every weekday, a substantial increase on existing service levels. "This will provide significantly improved rail journey opportunities for the benefit of the Dronfield community," he says.

Posted 18th December, 2007:-

The new franchises have taken over services at the station and the new timetable has been introduced - identical to the previous one. The question is; Will they maintain the service when the new Leeds-Nottingham service starts next year. We are still trying to get a few quick fixes to get a few more services running before then.

Friends of Dronfield Station have completed another minor cleanup at the station clearing the parking spaces where Square One Advertising used to have designated bays and some commuters seem to be using them now.

Posted 29th September, 2007:-

Friends of Dronfield Station held a successful inaugural meeting at the Civic Hall in Dronfield where over 80 people attended. Peter Hayward (Chairman) introduced the evening and gave an overview of proceedings so far and planned. Then Natascha Engel - our president - spoke and congratulated us on our effort and together with Peter accepted a cheque for £200 towards the running of the Friends of Dronfield Station. Paul Walker then gave details of the station adoption procedure and after a break for tea and biscuits Andy Firth gave an illustrated talk on Dronfield Station and it local railway connections in the past.