At a public meeting on September 25, the group announced its commitment to work for an improved timetable.

Many of the 50-plus people in attendance paid the £5 annual membership fee for the group on the spot, encouraged by speakers on the history and current state of services on the Manchester to Sheffield rail link, and on the successes of similar groups in other areas.

Newly-elected chair Sarah Roberts said: "The current timetable has only one train every two hours stopping in the Valley on weekdays. This is not good enough.

"One of our key objectives is a train every hour each way, just as we have on Saturdays.

"Northern Rail has managed improvements in other areas. We heard during the meeting from a representative of the neighbouring Goyt Valley group how New Mills Central would be getting a half-hourly Manchester service from December.

"Northern have improved punctuality on the line – now they have to improve the timetable.

"The Hope Valley line is an important link in the national network, carrying freight and express trains as well as our local services. It serves as a vital link to jobs, shopping and education in Manchester and Sheffield.

"It is also the only railway serving the Peak District National Park, and as such has a massive potential to get visitors into the area, and reduce the car use that is such a blight in some parts of the area through the summer months."

The group is also campaigning for later evening trains, better morning and afternoon commuter services and improvements to trains using the line, and are to talk to all three of the train operators that use the line.

For more information, contact Sarah on 0782 4622 384 or Spencer on 0796 151 7324.

* HOPE Valley Rotarians found themselves in the 'realm of one thousand islands' recently – taking part in the world's oldest sail-through Dutch auction of fruit and vegetables.

They were in the Broeker Veiling Museum in Broek op Langedijk during a flying visit to the Netherlands to cement their friendship with members of the Rotary Club of Hoorn de Compagnie.

A highlight was the visit to Broeker Veiling Museum, now a national monument with mooring halls and an auction room built above the water on 1,900 wooden posts. After a boat trip through some of the many small islands where locals still grow fruit and vegetables, the Rotarians took part in a real 'Dutch auction' where the price of products is determined by bidders stopping a clock which shows a decreasing price rather than the conventional increasing bid.

"Some Hope Valley Rotarians managed to buy sample lots of fruit and vegetables – though we're still trying to work out whether we made a profit or loss," said President John Wood.

During the weekend, John was inducted into membership of Hoorn's 'Klompenklub' and was presented with a special pair of miniature wooden shoes by Rtn Ruud Schreijer, a founder-member of the twinning link, in honour of his special appreciation of the culture of the Netherlands.

Hoorn President Angeline Weijenborg was made a member of the Hope Valley's Silver Spoon club for Rotarians who have worked to foster international understanding. Hope Valley's immediate past president, Alisma Clark, was also inducted into membership by Rtn Barrie Campbell, Silver Spoon Club life president.

There was special praise from officials of both clubs during the weekend for Rtn Jane Weightman, Rtn Ruud Schreijer and Rtn Gerrit Jan van der Drift who played key roles in establishing the twinning link 11-years-ago and who again made arrangements for this year's trip to Hoorn.