Description: Robin Hood Line looking west. The Robin Hood Line was built in response to the decline in the mining industry in the area. By 1988, future prospects for the Nottinghamshire coalfield looked bleak and road traffic congestion was becoming a problem so Nottinghamshire County Council commissioned two studies. One, by Leeds University, concluded that there was a considerable demand for a rail service within a catchment area of 300,000 people; and the other study by British Rail concluded that the 140 year old Kirkby Tunnel was in remarkably good condition. The Robin Hood Line was built in three stages. The Nottingham to Newstead service opened on 17 May 1993 with a station at Hucknall. Bulwell station opened a year later. Passenger services were extended from Newstead to Mansfield Woodhouse on 20 November 1995 with new stations at Sutton Parkway, Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse. Kirkby station was added a year later. Mansfield Woodhouse to Worksop re-opened for passengers on 25 May 1998 with new stations at Shirebrook, Langwith-Whaley Thorns, Creswell and Whitwell. The upgrading cost £5million compared to the £148,000 when the line was originally built in the 1870's. As colliery closures continued, the service has provided people with a means of travelling to employment elsewhere - mining jobs in the Mansfield area had declined from 41,000 in 1983 to 1,230 in the year 2000. Following privatisation of British Rail, engineering work was undertaken by Railtrack and the service operated by Central Trains.