The Derwent Valley line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire. The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent. Stations Former branch line diverges to . This route has been sold and is disconnected from the mainline, but has reopened as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway heritage railway. Route diverges away from the Midland Main Line just to the south of Ambergate station. Operations Local passenger services are operated by East Midlands Railway. From Monday to Saturday, an hourly service operates between Derby and Matlock with a couple of services extended to and from Nottingham. On Sunday, the service operates between Nottingham and Matlock, with one train every two hours in the morning, increasing in frequency to hourly in the afternoon and evening. The line is operated as one single line block section from Ambergate, using the No Signalman Key Token system under the supervision of Derby PSB. The driver of each train heading for Matlock must collect a token from the machine at Ambergate station before proceeding, and return it prior to leaving the branch. In addition to the local passenger services, the line between Derby and Ambergate Junction is also used by East Midlands Railway and CrossCountry fast services along with freight services operated by various companies. The Matlock branch lost its through services to London St Pancras in 2004 when (the former mainline operator) Midland Mainline replaced its Class 170 Turbostar diesel units with Class 222 Meridian sets. The Meridians are not yet cleared to work on the branch. History The section from Derby to Ambergate was built by the North Midland Railway (which ran between Derby and Leeds) and was opened in 1839. Ambergate quickly became busy with tourists alighting for Matlock Bath who would travel onwards by coach. The Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway also operated excursions from Birmingham completing the journey by way of the Cromford Canal. In 1849 the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway opened from Ambergate and ran as far as Rowsley. Lack of finance prevented it from proceeding any further, but Matlock Bath capitalised on its reputation as a tourist town with the appellation Little Switzerland. The line was leased jointly by the Midland Railway and the LNWR and, in spite of determined opposition from