Rotherham Central station closed due to flood risk

Rotherham Central railway station will be closed for at least two nights because of predicted flooding.

Network Rail said the station would shut, following the last service of the day, at 10pm on Tuesday, 31 December, and would not reopen until at least the start of services on 2 January.

Trains will be diverted around the station in the meantime.

There will also be no Sheffield Supertram service between Rotherham Parkgate and Meadowhall South on New Year's Day due to predicted flooding.

Forecasters are predicting flooding from the River Don from the early hours of New Year's Day. River levels are expected to peak at 11.30am.

Network Rail said staff would inspect the area once water had subsided to determine any work needed before services resume.

Operations director Karen Duffy said: "Taking proactive measures in such severe weather conditions has proved successful in the past in terms of protecting our important equipment from water damage, and the subsequent passenger disruption and costs this brings.

“Our signalling and telecommunications teams need as much notice as possible to carry out this disconnection and removal of equipment, and so will begin this work after the last service tonight."

The station was forced to close in February 2022 due to severe flooding during Storm Franklin.

Ms Duffy added: “We’re sorry to passengers affected by the route closure, but if the forecasts are accurate then we will see flooding at Rotherham and this is the most effective way of protecting the railway and resuming services as soon as possible afterwards.”

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