Scottish Borders Railway - rebuilt Waverley Route link to Edinburgh

[whole diary]

[John R]

No buildings, but they've built the access road to the station car park just beyond the end of the platforms. So again, to do what you suggest would now be very expensive, but if built into the design at the outset, much less so.

[ellendune]

No buildings, but they've built the access road to the station car park just beyond the end of the platforms. So again, to do what you suggest would now be very expensive, but if built into the design at the outset, much less so.

If thinking this way remember not to increase the cost of extending the line, but putting something in the way.  To my mind steam excursions, much as I like them are not what this line is about. 

In the interwar period Britain's railway companies were at the height of steam locomotive development - because other nations were moving on to more sustainable methods of traction.  Only the Southern were really forward looking to any degree.

[grahame]

No buildings, but they've built the access road to the station car park just beyond the end of the platforms. So again, to do what you suggest would now be very expensive, but if built into the design at the outset, much less so.

And yet

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/government-commits-on-borders-railway-to-carlisle-1-3881654

IT^S only been operating for a few days ^ but there^s no doubt the Borders Railway has already picked up a firm fanbase.

And now the Scottish Government has admitted it is ^committed^ to helping extend the line to Carlisle.

[grahame]

To my mind steam excursions, much as I like them are not what this line is about. 

Agreed ... and shouldn't that apply to all most all National Rail lines?

[John R]

I would agree, but having built the facility to have charter trains at Tweedbank, clearly the promotors of the line have recognised that they do have a role to play.

And if the intent is to have them on a regular basis in the summer, then the economic benefit to the community and businesses at the end of the line would be significant. Just ask those with businesses in Mallaig, who faced the prospect earlier this year of no Jacobite services and were openly talking of the damaging effect it would have had on their trade.

[PhilWakely]

I would agree, but having built the facility to have charter trains at Tweedbank, clearly the promotors of the line have recognised that they do have a role to play.

Talking about charters to Tweedbank.... Pathfinder Railtours are running 'The Border Reiver' to Tweedbank this weekend with 66s top and tail. It is an overnighter from Eastleigh to Tweedbank. I am booked on it, but what is a little off-putting about this tour is the following statement from their brochure...

Due to the high density of scheduled services along the mainly single track branchline it is only possible to get our classic loco hauled train through to Tweedbank and back before the first services start in the morning.

Therefore, the return trip along the Borders Line will be done almost entirely in darkness. I pointed this out to the lady on the end of the 'phone at Pathfinder when I enquired about the tour and her response was "Oh, I didn't realise that". 

[grahame]

Logic might suggest keeping a couple of modern coaches (of the sort stored in various places) at Edinburgh Waverley, and tacking them on to excursion trains running up to Tweedbank for the benefit of regularly ticketed travellers using regular train paths.

P.S. Yes, I can see flaws in my logic 

Note - originally and accidentally posted to Dawlish!

[rogerw]

I have booked on a UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Railtours trip on 30 December from London and points north which will be doing the line in daylight

[eightf48544]

I was asked how did they turn 60009 for the return journey of the royal train. There are a couple of triangles at Millerhill did they work the train back with a diesel and take the Streak off turn it and put it on the other end.

I didn't see the news but was told it pulled the train chimney first  in both directions.

[Adelante_CCT]

I didn't see the news but was told it pulled the train chimney first  in both directions.

No, it was dragged by a 67 on its return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCm4g5cZEJ0

[Chris from Nailsea]

From The Scotsman:

Borders Railway complaints over delays and overcrowding


Borders Railway has been plagued with complaints regarding overcrowding and delays in its first week of service. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Delays and overcrowding have plagued the Borders Railway^s first week, deterring passengers from using the new service, campaigners have claimed.

Many trains have operated with just two carriages, despite operator ScotRail^s pledge to run longer services to meet demand after the line^s high-profile official opening by the Queen.

Passengers have expressed anger at trains being so full they have been unable to get on. Other problems include ticket machines not recognising the line^s seven new stations.

Over half the 35-mile, ^350 million route is single track and operated largely by ScotRail^s diesel trains, most of which are awaiting refurbishment.

Monitoring by the Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR^▸ (Cost Benefit Ratioi (1/BCR))) showed a ^significant proportion^ of trains since the opening on Sunday, 6 September had been more than ten minutes late, and some up to 17 minutes late over their one-hour journey.

Members reported passengers standing all the way between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, which is between Galashiels and Melrose. Delays have increased by the extra time taken for passengers to get on and off crowded trains.

CBR chairman Simon Walton said services had been ^less than perfect^. He said: ^We did expect ScotRail to honour pledges to lengthen all trains in the early weeks to cope with demand - but that hasn^t been the case, with many running in the very minimum two-car formations and consequent overcrowding on some services.^

Robert Drysdale, an Edinburgh planning consultant who has travelled on the line several times, said: ^It was particularly important to get first impressions right, but I suspect there has been a lot of alienation.^

Rail consultant David Spaven, author of ^Waverley Route - the battle for the Borders Railway^, said: ^There have been too many late trains, compounded by too many being just two coaches long ^ unforgivably, even during peak hours. Astonishingly, there have been no special managerial measures put in place by ScotRail to oversee the critical first few weeks of operation. This is the crucial period when passengers new to rail decide whether or not to stick with the train, and too many will now have been put off by their first underwhelming experiences.^

ScotRail said disruption had been caused by factors including a train breaking down, signal problems, high passenger numbers and disruptive travellers.

A spokesman said: ^Thousands of people have flocked to use the new line, and despite extra carriages being added to many trains, it has been particularly busy on board some services, as expected. At times this has caused delays while these unusually large numbers of customers board and alight. In addition, there has been other disruption at times and we apologise to anyone whose journey has been delayed this week.^

The train operator said it was ^working hard^ to fix the problem which had prevented passengers buying Borders line tickets from a machine at Waverley Station in Edinburgh.

[eightf48544]

I didn't see the news but was told it pulled the train chimney first  in both directions.

No, it was dragged by a 67 on its return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCm4g5cZEJ0

Thanks Ad thought they wouldn't go back to Millerhill turn the loco put it on the other end and back to Tweedbank.

I'll tell the person who asked the question.

[grahame]

Borders Railway complaints over delays and overcrowding

Delays and overcrowding have plagued the Borders Railway^s first week, deterring passengers from using the new service, campaigners have claimed.

Many trains have operated with just two carriages, despite operator ScotRail^s pledge to run longer services to meet demand after the line^s high-profile official opening by the Queen.

Passengers have expressed anger at trains being so full they have been unable to get on. Other problems include ticket machines not recognising the line^s seven new stations.

Over half the 35-mile, ^350 million route is single track and operated largely by ScotRail^s diesel trains, most of which are awaiting refurbishment.

Monitoring by the Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR^▸ (Cost Benefit Ratioi (1/BCR))) showed a ^significant proportion^ of trains since the opening on Sunday, 6 September had been more than ten minutes late, and some up to 17 minutes late over their one-hour journey.

Members reported passengers standing all the way between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, which is between Galashiels and Melrose. Delays have increased by the extra time taken for passengers to get on and off crowded trains.

CBR chairman Simon Walton said services had been ^less than perfect^.

I fear, Simon, this is also the real world.   Teething problems, a need to handle that anticipated peak of first time riders (on trains obtained  borrowed from where?), and the fact that keeping spare resources to hand in case they're needed is very expensive ... well ... were you promised a perfect service of new trains from the start, or did anyone say "there are likely to be a few early issues ..."

Celebrate the new line and the service - work out the initial issues and get on with it 

[IndustryInsider]

Celebrate the new line and the service - work out the initial issues and get on with it 

Well said.  I can't speak for the overcrowding, but from looking at the performance logs it has been far from disastrous punctuality wise - I can't find very many trains arriving over ten minutes late, especially in the last few days.

[Chris125]

I'd also suggest that a run around facility near Tweedbank should be high on the list of future enhancements, to avoid the need for two locos and enable steam haulage both ways, which would reduce costs and increase the attractiveness of the steam proposition. 

Running backwards 'tender-first' is limited to 45mph, so steam haulage both ways would almost certainly require a turntable as well - an expensive prospect, and not one that could be justified without knowing how successful these trips prove.