Leekbrook Junction to the Main Line at Stoke on Trent  

The renovation of this 10 mile section of line will be the next stage in MCR’s project.

As with the Cauldon branch, this section has not been used regularly since the early 1990’s and is heavily overgrown with vegetation although, as a railway line, it is intact in terms of structures and track throughout its length.  Complete renovation is needed before trains can run.  Once again, the intention will be to upgrade the section initially for heritage running and then for freight.

Work is expected to start later this summer with vegetation clearance and repairs to the track underway at both ends of the line.  The main emphasis initially will be the section between Leekbrook Junction and Endon, a distance of 3½ miles.  If renovation proceeds as anticipated, the reopening of this section for limited heritage running should be achieved before the end of the year and will be marked with some special runnings.

Leekbrook Junction to Alton

One of MCR’s main objectives is to reconnect Alton Towers with the national rail network at Stoke, the intention being to reduce substantially traffic on the road network leading to the Towers and, as a result, produce a major improvement in the area’s general environment.

Alton Towers will then be accessible by rail from any part of the country and for those arriving in North Staffordshire by car, rail based park and ride facilities at Stoke and Leek will provide rapid and congestion free access direct to the attractions of the Towers.

The route involves the use of the Churnet Valley Railway’s line to just north of Oakamoor with the final stretch to Alton being a reinstated section of the original Churnet Valley line.

The section south of Oakamoor has not been an operational railway since the mid 1960’s and MCR is currently working on a detailed reinstatement programme which will form the basis for the various consents and land agreements which will be needed before the installation of new railway infrastructure can proceed.

It is anticipated that MCR’s detailed proposals for this part of the route will be finalised before the end of 2011 at which point full details will be released.

MCR has noted a certain amount of inaccurate information on this part of the project appearing in the press or other websites and, in relation to two issues in particular, would like to confirm:-

• South of Oakamoor, the railway will require only a single track, enabling both the railway and a footpath to run side by side along the route.  This type of arrangement operates successfully in many locations around the country. 

• The line speeds will not be 70 mph.