A feasibility study for the proposed Peaks and Dales Line has been formally submitted to the Department for Transport, marking a key milestone in plans to reinstate a rail link between Manchester and Derby.
The scheme would reconnect the North West and East Midlands via Chinley, Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock, using a mix of existing infrastructure and new sections of track. The study has been reviewed through the Better Value Rail Working Group, which includes the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road.
At this stage, the study concludes that there are no major technical, environmental or planning barriers that would prevent the project from progressing to the next phase, the Strategic Outline Business Case.
Case for reinstatement
The proposal aims to address long-standing transport challenges across the Peak District and surrounding areas, including heavy congestion on key roads, limited public transport options and high reliance on car travel within a protected landscape.
The study finds that reinstating the rail corridor could provide a high-capacity, lower-carbon alternative to road travel, particularly for visitors to the Peak District, which attracts between 13 and 26 million people annually.
Headline findings
Initial estimates suggest the project could deliver between £2 billion and £8 billion in additional economic value by 2040. It could also remove up to 4.3 million car journeys per year from the road network and reduce carbon emissions by up to 60,000 tonnes annually.
The study highlights improved accessibility as a key benefit, particularly for the estimated 3.16 million people in the region without access to a car. It also points to potential support for new housing developments on brownfield land outside the National Park.
Only around 11.5 miles of new railway would be required to reconnect a corridor of nearly 50 miles, with the remainder utilising or upgrading existing infrastructure.
Environmental and network benefits
The proposals include measures to integrate the railway with existing walking and cycling routes, including enhancements to the Monsal Trail. The aim is to improve sustainable access while maintaining recreational use of the area.
Wider benefits identified include strengthened east–west connectivity, additional resilience for key routes such as the Hope Valley Line and Midland Main Line, and alignment with national decarbonisation and modal shift objectives.
Next phase
The project will now move into the Strategic Outline Business Case stage, which will involve more detailed analysis of route options, demand modelling, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement.
No final decisions have yet been made on route alignment, station locations or service patterns. These will be developed and assessed as part of the next phase.
