NETWORK Rail is investing £350,000 to help restore a section of canal in Derbyshire and reduce flooding on the Midland Main Line (MML).
A one-mile section of the Draycott Canal,known locally as the Golden Mile,was filled-in more than 50 years ago,but increased rainfall has led to the MML being flooded 19 times since 2012, causing more than 357 hours of delays to trains and costing £2million in repairs. restorea1,100metrestretch of canal and raise parts of the bank by one metre to reduce the risk of water overflowing onto the railway.
NR’s contribution is in addition to £100,000 raised by the Canal Trust over the last three years to revive a section of waterway foruse by boats by summer 2021.
New leisure facilities will also be created, providing provisions for angling, canoeing,paddle boarding and even outdoor swimming.