Ecclesbourne Valley Railway joins the heritage 'big league'

摘要

If the requirement for entry to the heritage railway world's 'top division' in the 21st century is a presence on the main line network map, then Derbyshire's Ecclesbourne Valley Railway can now count itself among that elite. As if to underline the importance of the fact that Duffield station is now a 'junction' (albeit not yet a physically-connected one), the top man at East Midlands Trains - managing director Tim Shoveller - arrived on the first morning of public operations, April 8, to travel on the inaugural steam-hauled service from there to Wirksworth. Alighting from one of the EMT diesel units that call at Duffield, en route from Derby to Matlock, he proudly pointed out that his company's timetables and ticketing structure are promoting the EVR's services and told The Railway Magazine that he hoped the two railways would be able to help each other generate extra passenger figures.