STONE DONATION HELPS IMPROVE HERITAGE RAIL COMPANY EXPERIENCE

If you take a nostalgic trip on heritage railway Peak Rail you are likely to see how a generous donation of stone by independent local company Longcliffe Quarries Ltd has enabled the company to make some significant improvements.

Peak Rail operates a steam and heritage diesel service for tourists and visitors to both the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales. The limestone has been used for a platform extension at Rowsley and for foundations for rebuilding a footbridge at Darley Dale Station.

Peak Rail General Manager Mark Sealey said: “We would like to thank everyone at Longcliffe for the generous donation of stone which will improve travellers’ experiences at Rowsley and Darley Dale Stations. The Darley Dale project has been the subject of a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to restore the original footbridge back to its original position once rebuilt. The stone gift means we do not have to purchase and use the grant to cover the costs of the foundation sub-base.”

Longcliffe Commercial Director Darren Mooney said the company welcomed the opportunity to support an important historic project: “We are very proud of our community programme which sees the company support a wide range of local projects with material and financial donations. We are pleased the stone can make a difference to improving the exciting experience Peak Rail travellers have in the future.”

The Peak Rail line, which forms part of the Old Midland Railway line between Manchester Central and London St Pancras closed in 1968. It runs is over 3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km) in length and operates train services from Matlock station (shared with Derwent Valley Line services from Derby via Ambergate) via the site of Matlock Riverside and Darley Dale to Rowsley South.

To find out more about what Peak Rail has to offer visit www.peakrail.co.uk