FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Contact: Neil Ferguson-Lee
Tel. (01629) 822806
Email neilfl@wyvernrail.co.uk

FULL STEAM AHEAD!
APPROVAL GRANTED TO OPEN SECOND PHASE OF ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY RAILWAY.  STEAM
PASSENGER SERVICES BEGIN ON 1ST SEPTEMBER


Wirksworth, 30th August 2005:  With hours left before the final deadline,
WyvernRail plc, the company operating the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
received approval to commence operations on the second part of the line to
reopen.

After receiving a clean bill of health from Her Majesty’s Railway
Inspectorate, WyvernRail plans to commence passenger services on the
Wirksworth to Ravenstor section of the line from this Thursday, 1st
September.  While normal services will use a diesel locomotive and passenger
coach, the railway is celebrating the line’s opening with use of a steam
engine for the next week.

The Wirksworth to Ravenstor section of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is an
entirely new stretch of passenger railway, having been used before solely
for the movement of limestone from Wirksworth’s quarries.  Climbing at 1 in
30 (a very steep hill in railway terms), the line terminates at the new
Ravenstor Halt, conveniently situated for walkers to reach the High Peak
Trail and National Stone Centre.

The line has been funded by the Aggregates Levy Fund, the Derby and
Derbyshire Enterprise Partnership and shareholders in WyvernRail plc.  Work
commenced almost exactly twelve months ago and in addition to the new
station at Ravenstor, a new platform has been built at Wirksworth and there
has been extensive remodelling of track between the two points.

“We are absolutely delighted” remarked Martin Miller, WyvernRail’s Managing
Director.  “What an achievement to all involved in the transition from a
derelict, drug populated site, to a fine, professional, working railway.
What we have at Wirksworth is quite unique with two services operating from
the station and passengers having a choice of destinations” he added.

The line’s reopening could not be better timed for WyvernRail.  Their rail
industry services offshoot, MyTestTrack.com is holding its first ever trade
event on 1st and 2nd September with heavy rail engineering companies
exhibiting their products at Wirksworth station, while on the 2nd,
representatives of national and local government will be attending a
showcase event there.  Over the weekend of 3rd and 4th, a gala event will
take place with passenger services, including steam haulage operating out of
Wirksworth Station.

Ends.

Note for editors:
The following high-quality digital images are available to download and
reproduce:

1.      This remarkable pair of images show the astounding progress made by
the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s volunteers in just eight months in 2005.
They depict the track layout under Cromford Road Bridge at the northern end
of the Ravenstor Incline.
http://plc.wyvernrail.co.uk/files/P1020032.jpg
http://plc.wyvernrail.co.uk/files/P8180064.jpg

2.      In the following image, Ravenstor Halt can be seen ready and waiting
to receive its first passengers.  This line to Wirksworth falls away
dramatically beyond Cromford Road Bridge.
http://plc.wyvernrail.co.uk/files/P8180090.jpg

About the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:
WyvernRail plc is working with the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association
to reopen the Duffield to Wirksworth railway in the heart of Derbyshire.
The line passes through the beautiful Ecclesbourne Valley to the award
winning and beautifully restored town of Wirksworth, nestling at the
foothills of the Peak District.
The line is a time capsule, with its intermediate stations largely intact
and the layout at Wirksworth virtually unchanged since the days of steam.
There are 8½ miles of single-track railway, which meet the Midland Main Line
at Duffield Junction near Derby.  There are five station sites, two level
crossings, a yard with extensive sidings and a mineral branch to the old
Middlepeak quarry at Wirksworth.  It is planned to link the mineral line to
the National Stone Centre and the High Peak Trail.

I'd really like to say well done to the people who have put a lot of
effort into achieving this.

As a small shareholder, I'm glad to have contributed in a very minor
way.

Jerry A.