Borders Rail progress

[rjhowie]

The process of r-laying the line from Edinburgh to Galashiels and Tweedbank wil start in early 2013. Only in odd places will there be a deviation from the original closed in the savage cuts of Dr Beeching decades ago. Rail was once widespread in the Borders area but the loss of the old Waverley Route from Edinburgh across country to Carlisle over the Border was a special loss. People even blocked the track on the last day of operation and it will be good to see this re-instatement. It is also expected to be on time and in budget like the Bathgate re-opening.

The Borders Line will re-open in the summer of 2015 and is the longest re-openingin Great Britain. Passnegers will have a very pleasant scenic view and in peak times a train every 30 minutes. Roll on 2015 which I am looking forward to!

 

[JCitron]

This is awesome. I have a 1984 or 1985 copy of Railway Age magazine that has an article on the line. I could never understand why the line was shutdown given all the protests. I am glad people have come to their senses and are reopening the line again. I wish this would happen over here. Like in Britain during the same period, some really important lines were closed just because but have never been returned to service. Instead these lines have become bike paths and power line service roads.

John

 

[rjhowie]

Yes John, some have become tracks and cycle ways. Originally as I said the Waverley route ran across to Carlise and there was a selection of routes in the Borders but this was the most famous. Walked part of it when taking a camp to Melrose a few miles past Galashiels and the station was still intact. The lady who was foremost for years at getting the 30 mile re-opening (and was amongst those blocking the line in protest!) has suggested that the people further along at Hawick should campaign as they did for a further extension. However for now there are absolutely no plans to go any further. When they were at the planning stage they made a strong attempt to involve local people and 1,200 turned up to support and take an interest and if the recent re-openings here in the northern part of the kingdom this is the longest vy far. My understanding that there wil be a small group of re-openings down south following our lead up here!

In the case of the Waverley route it was extremely fortunate that 90% of the track bed was stil extant and that only a tiny proportion is deviating. Bridges are all in goodly order too. Some have been pishing for the St Andrew's branch to be brought back but so far every re-opened line in Scotland has more than broken the hoped for passengers. There have also been enquiries from rail fans on tour trains visiting the lone and First Scotrail and Network rail are supportive and facilities will be available at Tweebank terminus to allow for them as well as regular service. This is all good news for Galashiels and the intermittent stops and boossthis loverly part of the country.