RAIL CHRONOLOGY : NOTTINGHAM - WORKSOP
restoration of passenger service

Page first uploaded: 30 November 2007.



Nottingham - Worksop via the former Midland Railway's route closed to passengers from 12 October 1964. Two portions of the route were abandoned: first, the section between Annesley and Kirkby in Ashfield was taken out of use on 11 October 1970 because of the conditon of the tunnel; second, Kirkby in Ashfield to Kirkby Summit was abandoned 4 April 1972 (when two links were opened to take freight trains to and from Pye Bridge through Kirkby on the former Great Northern line instead).

Resumption of passenger services:

Nottingham - Newstead reopened 17 May 1993, with a prior press run on 27 April 1993 and promotional day to advertise the service on 8 May 1993.
Intermediate stations: Bulwell (reopened 23 May 1994); Hucknall

Newstead - Mansfield Woodhouse reopened 20 November 1995, with a prior ceremonial run on 10 November 1995, a further ceremony on 17 November 1995 and a "fun" day special service on 19 November 1995.
Intermediate stations: Kirkby in Ashfield (opened 18 November 1996 with promotional service previous day); Sutton Parkway; Mansfield.
The reopened line uses the old Midland route as far north as the north portal of Kirkby Tunnel (the tunnel had been used for land fill and had to be emptied), then new alignment to site of Kirkby South Junction, then a very short stretch of former Great Central, then former Great Northern through Kirkby in Ashfield, then the northern 1972 link to return to the Midland's original route.

Mansfield Woodhouse - Worksop, Shireoaks East Junction reopened 25 May 1998, with prior ceremonial opening 17 May 1998 and public promotional service on 24 May 1998.
Intermediate stations: Shirebrook; Langwith-Whaley Thorns; Creswell; Whitwell.

Richard Maund


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