3 April 2009 is the date that marks the 20th birthday of Tutbury and Hatton station, a key stop on the North Staffordshire line (Crewe-Derby).
The anniversary is the latest chapter in the station’s long and distinguished history. The current station site is close to the original station which was opened over 150 years ago on 11 September 1848 by the North Staffordshire Railway Company, which managed the Derby to Crewe line from 1845.
Then called Tutbury station, it marked the start of the direct link to Burton-on-Trent via Marston Junction, which was essentially a freight line to serve the brewing industry.
In time, the line became important for commuters and shoppers, who travelled from Tutbury to Burton on the Tutbury ‘Jinnie’ steam train service, which provided eight trains each way on weekdays and two on Sundays.
The Jinnie was withdrawn in June 1963, and when the Tutbury-Burton line closed in 1966, it looked like the end for Tutbury station. But backed by staunch support from County, District and Parish Councils serving Tutbury and Hatton, the Tutbury Civic Society and the Hatton Nestle plant, the new Tutbury and Hatton station was opened on 3 April 1989.
Now the station train operator East Midlands Trains provides residents with an hourly service to Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent and Derby and all local stations in-between. The service is also a quick link to fast rail services to London St Pancras International, and to a handy bus connection to East Midlands Airport, both of which operate via Derby station.
Latest passenger figures (Office of Rail Regulator data for 2006/2007) show that almost 37,000 passengers use Tutbury and Hatton station each year.
As part of a programme of station improvements for the North Staffordshire Line being rolled out by North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership and East Midlands Trains, the Partnership has recently installed new public transport information cases and cycle storage pins on each platform.
And thanks to a new project jointly funded by Staffordshire and Derbyshire County Councils, East Midlands Trains and the Department for Transport, Tutbury and Hatton passengers will this year benefit from real time information on train arrival and departure times when electronic customer information screens (CIS) are installed at the station.
Jeanne Minchin of Tutbury Civic Society said: “Tutbury and Hatton station is a very important public transport link for local residents, many of whom use the service to travel to work and college. We worked hard towards having the station reopened and so we are naturally very proud of its history. We are delighted to see that the station is being improved for the future with modern train service information systems that will be a big boost for passengers.”
Emma Knight from East Midlands Trains said: “We’re very much looking forward to celebrating this key milestone. Tutbury and Hatton remains a very important station for the North Staffordshire Line and for East Midlands Trains and we look forward to celebrating its 20th birthday.”