Scottish Borders Railway - rebuilt Waverley Route link to Edinburgh

[whole diary]

[grahame]

It has emerged there is still some dispute over whether it should be named the Borders Railway or the Waverley Line - after the original line which was closed in 1969. It follows a debate over whether to call the terminus Tweedbank or Tweedbank Abbotsford.

See more at: http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/galashiels/articles/2014/08/16/507226-new-row-for-borders-railway/

Am I alone in wondering if the name "Borders" would be best applied once it opens further south and crosses the borders of England and Scotland?     No - it seems not, but others wonder the other way!

Speaking at this month^s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, Councillor John Mitchell, who represents the area on Scottish Borders Council, said: ^It will be the Waverley Line when it goes to Hawick and Carlisle.^ However, community council chairman, Ian Purvis, pointed out the new line to Tweedbank, which takes its name after the Waverley Novels by Sir Walter Scott and is due to be completed in around 12 months time, should make the most of its connections to his former home at nearby Abbotsford House, now a world class visitor attraction.

Please excuse the link being to a "signup" page.   If you take their little survey you'll get access ...

[John R]

The Scottish Borders (plural) is a distinct region and indeed has a council of that name, so it's not unreasonable for the railway to be called the Borders Railway.

Clearly a major issue for the scheme though. One more reason for the detractors to knock it.

[TonyK]

The Scottish Borders (plural) is a distinct region and indeed has a council of that name, so it's not unreasonable for the railway to be called the Borders Railway.

Clearly a major issue for the scheme though. One more reason for the detractors to knock it.

A nice problem to have - if only the sole problem we had in another place was whether it was the Portishead line or the North Somerset line.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Edinburgh Evening News:

Borders Rail steam train tourism plan


First Minister Alex Salmond at Eildon Mill this morning. Picture: Johnston Press

The long awaited Borders Railway will be operational from September 6 next year it was announced by the First Minister today, with plans for a steam train experience to operate on the line.

Alex Salmond announced future plans for a feasibility study of the Borders Railway, to look at how the railway will transform the tourism potential of the region.

The study, led by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with VisitScotland, Scottish Borders Council and Transport Scotland, will look at tourist opportunities from any future development of the line.

This includes the potential for a turntable and the creation of a permanent home at Tweedbank Station for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, the world^s longest embroidered tapestry, reflecting the textile heritage of the area.

Plans were announced to maximise the tourist potential of the line by introducing a steam train experience which could benefit the local economy by million of pounds a year. The steam train experience will start as early as September 2015. The intention is for a significant expansion as the tapestry centre opens in 2016.

Speaking from the site of Tweedbank Station, the First Minister said: ^From September 2015 -- for the first time in almost half a century -- there will be passenger train services running on this track. For commuters and tourists alike, the reopened line will provide opportunities to enjoy the many fantastic attractions and experiences on offer in the Borders. We can expect the Scottish economy to benefit by tens of millions of pounds from the regular train line.

^The feasibility study will look at how the area can benefit from the railway. With a dedicated tourist service and the attraction of the Great Tapestry of Scotland to be based at Tweedbank, more people than ever will get to visit and enjoy Scotland^s stunning Borders. There will be few railway journeys anywhere in Europe to match the outstanding scenery along the route of the new Borders Railway. I have no doubt that Borders Railway will be profoundly successful and I will be one of the first in line for a ticket when the trains are running in September next year.^

Other measures have also been announced to help boost the potential tourism brought by the new railway, such as extending the platform at Galashiels Station to accommodate a longer train -- allowing passengers to alight and explore the town - as well as a path being constructed to connect Newtongrange to the National Mining Museum.

There will also be Wifi connectivity available at all seven stations on the route of the railway

A train will be covered in special livery advertising the tourist potential of the Borders.

Council leader, Councillor Owen Thompson welcomed the news that Transport Scotland is to fund a path directly from the new station at Newtongrange into the National Mining Museum Scotland.

He said: ^The 5 star mining museum is just one of scores of attractions here in Midlothian. We sit just 10 miles south of Edinburgh city centre and the county is steeped in history, picturesque villages and wonderful scenery. The station itself will potentially bring enormous economic benefits to the area and to hear Transport Scotland is now funding a path straight to one of our most fascinating museums is great news for the museum in particular and tourism in general. I am looking forward immensely to the re-opening of the railway when the museum and lots of local businesses will be making visitors, new and old, very welcome.^

Catherine Maxwell Stewart, Tourism Business representative on the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership said: ^The Borders Railway offers a fantastic opportunity for local tourism businesses to attract new visitors to the area and to offer them exciting, new experiences.^

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said: ^The scenery from Edinburgh through Midlothian down to the Scottish Borders and back again is remarkable and I have no doubt that visitors will make the journey just for the experience as well as to visit the many attractions along the way, including the National Mining Museum Scotland at Newtongrange and Abbotsford House. The romanticism captured by steam trains will give the route added value, following in the tracks of the Jacobite steam train journey from Fort William to Mallaig which welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

^We are excited that we are moving ever closer to the launch of this magnificent new line and will be working with partners over the coming months to ensure the tourism potential of the Borders Railway is fully realised, encouraging visitors to explore yet more of Scotland^s beautiful urban and rural landscapes.^

Alistair Moffat, co-chairman of the Great Tapestry of Scotland Trustees said how it would be ^fitting and satisfying^ to see the tapestry return to the Borders, where it was started, after it has been ^stitched by a thousand Scots^.

The first rails of the Borders Railway were laid last week in Bowshank Tunnel near Galashiels.

The project is set to cost ^350 million.

[Rhydgaled]

A turntable! Fishguard Harbour doesn't even have a serviceable run-round loop anymore, yet still has charter trains occasionally, wheras the loop at Milford Haven remains intact (I think) despite the fact I don't think a charter has visited for quite some time (open to correction there).

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is a really excellent, detailed and well-illustrated article on the Rail Engineer website, at http://www.therailengineer.com/2014/08/29/borders-on-track/

I won't even try to quote it here, but I do recommend that it's well worth a read. 

[Red Squirrel]

Borders Railway on Course for Completion as Main Track-Laying Begins
Thursday, October 9, 2014

Work has now begun to install almost 30 miles of rail on the Borders Railway as the project enters the main phase of track-laying on the new route.

Transport Minister Keith Brown and Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, visited the newly-constructed Shawfair station today (Thursday, October 9) to officially launch this important phase of the track-laying programme.

By the end of the year, a state-of-the-art rail installation machine ^ capable of laying over 1km of track per day ^ will complete the Borders route.

The machine, operated by main contractor BAM, will install rails onto 90,000 sleepers laid out along the route and link up specialist sections of track that have already been installed at key locations.

The longest new domestic railway built in Britain in over a century, the Scottish Government-funded project will re-establish passenger services for the first time in over 40 years from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.

Transport Minister, Keith Brown said:  ^This project isn^t just about building a railway ^ it^s about restoring links for communities that will result in employment, study and social opportunities. The installation of the tracks sees that long-held aspiration for the Borders and Midlothian becoming a tangible reality.

^With construction due to complete next summer and the line to enter service on September 6, 2015, the new railway will offer a fast and efficient alternative to the congested local road network allowing passengers to travel from Tweedbank to Edinburgh in around an hour at peak times.

^This time next year, for the first time in almost half a century, people will be travelling by train between Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Borders ^ a hugely proud achievement for those who have worked so hard to deliver this railway and an exciting development for these communities.^

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, added: ^The installation of track on this route puts rail services within touching distance for thousands of potential passengers in Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.^

^By the end of this year, rails will connect seven stations along the route to the national railway network for the first time in forty-five years. When services start running next September, the railway will form a new economic artery for the region, providing opportunities for employment, education and tourism. ^

Once the rails are in place the project team will install signalling and communications equipment as well as complete the construction and fit-out of seven new stations ^ at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.

With construction due to complete in the summer 2015 and the line to enter service in September 2015, the new railway will offer a fast and efficient alternative to the congested local road network allowing passengers to travel from Tweedbank to Edinburgh in around an hour at peak times.

The railway is expected to deliver major economic and social development opportunities ^ connecting people to jobs, housing, leisure opportunities and other facilities. The project is a key part of the Scottish Government^s wider programme of investment in transport infrastructure, working towards the sustainable economic growth of Scotland.

See http://www.bordersrailway.co.uk/ for more details and regular updates

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Border Telegraph:

Rail noise expected in the Borders

Rail chiefs revealed they expect to get complaints over the noise of the engines involved in laying the track for the new line between Edinburgh and the Borders.

However, they insisted that the trains which will eventually run on the line when passenger services begin in September next year will be much quieter.

The Borders Railway, which runs between Tweedbank and Edinburgh, is expected to be laid by the end of the year with driver training and testing of the track due to start in the spring.

Speaking at this month^s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, Jonathan Hepton, the Borders Railway community liaison manager, said: ^It may be that this track laying train will attract some complaints as it hangs around and sounds its horn, but it^s not the same as the trains which will carry passengers on the line.^

The meeting heard that VisitScotland planned a special advertising campaign to promote the Borders Railway in a promotional campaign in 2015/16 and, before then, a train would be made up in special livery in advance of the line reopening.

The new line reached the Borders last week and is expected to reach the region^s first station at Stow on November 21.

When asked if the railway was still on course to be completed in time, Mr Hepton said: ^There is no indication that it^s not going to schedule, everything seems to be going very well.^

The meeting was reminded that a return fare between Edinburgh and Tweedbank would cost ^15.70 at peak times and ^13.10 at off-peak times, although under fives travel free, children get 50 per cent and rail card holders could get up to a third off their fares. Community councillor tom Ingoldsby said it was ^reasonable^ in comparison to the cost of petrol and parking in Edinburgh.

Gala in Bloom has confirmed it will adopt the new station platform in Galashiels to spruce up the entrance to the town. Chairwoman Judith Cleghorn said: ^I don^t think there is a lot of room for decoration on the platform but we^ll certainly do something.^

[grahame]

It gets closer ... with track laying almost complete.  And it appears that fares won't be cheap:

PENSIONERS and disabled ^people living along the Borders Railway will be denied cheap fares unlike those using nearby lines, The Scotsman has learned.

That's under a headline "Elderly and disabled denied Borders rail discount" at http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/elderly-and-disabled-denied-borders-rail-discount-1-3681916

I suspect that's just sloppy journalism - that disabled and senior railcards WILL be honoured and that the fares on this line won't be set at an expensive level.  It means that customers won't be able to use their bus passes to get a train discount (as they can in our area on Westbury -> Weymouth and Swindon -> Worcester, but not on Westbury -> Swindon in between!).

The article goes on

Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils confirmed they will not offer discounts to residents using the Edinburgh-Tweedbank route due to open in September.

By contrast, people over 60 or with disabilities in neighbouring East and West Lothian receive a range of discounts, such as half-price travel on local lines.

A total of 282,000 journeys were made using the West Lothian scheme last year and 136,000 in East Lothian.

[readytostart]

The former Lothian Regional Council areas have vastly different concessionary fares in operation.

Midlothian: No concession as currently not stations within the council area.
City of Edinburgh: Former discount of 50p single ^1 withdrawn - it was only valid to rail destinations within the city limits, so not of a great deal of use, now valid for free tram travel.
East Lothian: Half fare at any time of day for the appropriate ticket type. 5p single, 10p return for companions of blind passengers.
West Lothian: ^1 single, ^2 return to a wde rangle of stations including to Edinburgh and to the outskirts of Glasgow (generally neighbouring council areas) and half fare to East Lothian and a range of stations in Glasgow city. Only valid off peak at the same time restrictions as CDRs^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')).

So you can see why they'd be a bit miffed that they still have to take the bus.

Passengers who are visually impaired and have this impairment shown on their entitlement card are entitled to free train travel to any National Rail station in Scotland and also to Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

[grahame]

So you can see why they'd be a bit miffed that they still have to take the bus.

I can indeed understand why they would be miffed if they weren't allowed to use the train, but surely they can use the train just like anyone else and pay just like anyone else 34% less than others with a railcard.  Taking a Galashiels to Waverley journey, the proposed fare is ^9.10 single which works out to ^15.50 return / ^12.80 off peak return / ^10.20 or ^8.50 return with railcard according to Transport Scotland. 32 miles each way, so the railcard return fare is 13p per mile, and fares broadly comparable to London - Reading (so compare 10.20 return in Scotland to 44.30 in the Thames Valley for senior day return, bearing in mind senior railcard not valid for journeys wholly in the old NSE^▸ (Network South East) area before 09:30)

Doing a few wider sums on the project, they're estimating 600,000 journeys in (implied) the first year, rising to 1,000,000 over time.  With half hourly trains each way (hourly evenings and Sundays) that's 22000 services per annum giving an initial loading average of 27 per train rising to 45 per train.   Comparing to TransWilts, we achieved 28 per train in year 1 and, yes, can rise to 45.  I do suspect that trains on the Borders line will be at least twice as long as TransWilts ones (so loading there is estimated at 18% of seats rather than the 37% we achieved), but it looks like their provision will cope with the onward growth whereas we've got "full and standing" reports already on a regular basis (6 days a week) and something will need to be done if our growth isn't to be held back by negative customer reaction to on-train conditions.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/project/borders-railway

[TonyK]

Purely as an aside, but knowing the level of interest in all things rail here, there are many interesting pictures and a few videos on this site

[chrisr_75]

Further update on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) today - the track laying is now complete. Too many photos in the article to re-post in full here, so click the link for more:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-31413672

[Red Squirrel]

The timetable has been published - it's getting close!

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/122963_newcraighall-edinburgh.pdf

[Rhydgaled]

The timetable has been published - it's getting close!

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/122963_newcraighall-edinburgh.pdf

That seems to be a fairly comprehensive service, half-hourly. No half measures there. Makes me wonder why it shut when there are many lines, at least here in Wales, which survived Beeching etc. and have a much lower level of service today than half-hourly.