News - Borders railway
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The £10m study is being funded as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal with Scottish Borders Council as the lead authority.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Borders MSP Rachael Hamilton has met with Scottish Government Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop to discuss the Borders Railway extension and other transport options in the region.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Waverley Route |
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Now the Gala Water valley in the Scottish Borders has ambitious plan to capitalise on its revival.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Stow  Stow: The beautiful project to restore Stow Station as a community hub with a bar and kitchen when it was nearing completion.  Stow: The ScotRail 1425 ex - Edinburgh Waverley about to call at Stow on 8 April 2022. Note the blue community award plaque attached to the wall alongside the door of the old station house.  Stow: A type 2 runs south through Stow station in December 1968. See image [[39295]] |
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Cross-political support for the extension bid is seen as essential to its success as it was to the reopening of Borders Railway in 2015.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Hawick Melrose St Boswells |
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Spending on buildings, transport and other projects may need to be curtailed, warns Audit Scotland.
(Permalink) Audit Scotland Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Decarbonisation |
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A coalition representing councils, campaigners and governments have met to discuss progress with a £10m feasibility study to extend the Borders Railway.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle Hawick St Boswells Tweedbank Waverley Route  Hawick [2nd]: D5069 with the 09.20 Carlisle - Edinburgh train stands at Hawick on 21 December 1968.  Riccarton Junction: A Carlisle-Edinburgh train rolls into Riccarton Junction in September 1963. The photographer's two sons - with camping gear, after an idyllic holiday here - are just visible on the platform.  St Boswells: Integrated rail transport, but not for much longer. Steam meets diesel at St Boswells on the station's last day as a passenger junction, 13th June 1964. The footplate crew of the Standard Class 2 2-6- ... |
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A multi-million-pound consultation into the extension of the Borders Railway into Cumbria could start this year.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Waverley Route |
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£10 million has been allocated for a feasibility study into extending the Borders Railway into Cumbria, finishing at Carlisle.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Waverley Route |
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An MSP has raised concerns about completely unacceptable train delays between Edinburgh and Midlothian on the Borders Railway.
This follows the publication of a performance update by Scotrail earlier this month, which revealed that 51.4 per cent of trains travelling on the line which was opened in 2015 were delayed last year, which includes trains travelling between Edinburgh and Tweedbank via Gorebridge, Newtongrange and Eskbank. (Permalink) Borders Railway Delays Single track  Newtongrange: Light rain has just started to fall at Newtongrange on the morning of 20 May 2021 as the 1002 ScotRail service to Edinburgh (0929 ex-Tweedbank) arrives at the platform. Note the zig-zag pathway leadin ... |
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Dr Neil Hudson MP has called for action on reopening the Penrith to Keswick line, extending the Borders Railway through Longtown to Carlisle, and reopening Gilsland Station.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle Gilsland Keswick Longtown Penrith  Keswick: The Games Room of the Keswick Hotel, under the canopies of the old station, looked inviting on a cold wet November evening. There was a second similar canopied platform here (See image [[34066]]) but ...  Gilsland: Known in the past for its sulphurous spa waters, the village of Gilsland stands alongside Hadrians Wall, straddling the border between Northumberland and Cumbria. The station was first opened in 1836 ...  Longtown: View from the southbound Scottish Grand Tour about to pass through Longtown station on 4 January 1969. [Ref query 6622] |
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Two Borders politicians are calling for 2023 to be the 'year of progress' for the Borders Railway.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle Hawick Melrose Newcastleton St Boswells |
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Borders rail campaigners have been in discussion with a Borders MP about the next steps to expand the railway.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle Hawick Melrose St Boswells |
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The Scottish Borders are missing out on a thriving tourism economy due to lacking rail infrastructure, Transform Scotland's Paul Tetlaw.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Double track |
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'We're talking about the completion of the line, not the extension'. Its mission has never been in doubt - to restore train services to underserved communities the full length of the former Waverley Line between Edinburgh and Carlisle.
(Permalink) Border Union Railway Borders Railway Edinburgh and Hawick Railway  Tweedbank: ScotRail 170408 standing in platform 2 at Tweedbank terminus on 8 April 2022.  Hawick [2nd]: Platform scene at Hawick station looking north on the last day... Sunday 5 January 1969. The gentleman on the left with Border Terrier Mickey is a Mr McCartney (senior) and the train on the right is ...  St Boswells: View north through St Boswells station in the mid 1960s. On the right is the bay platform used by trains on the Kelso and Berwick line and immediately to the right of that stands the 2-road locomotive ... |
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Strike action means no trains are expected to run to Galashiels for their annual general meeting.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Galashiels Tweedbank: ScotRail 170408 standing in platform 2 at Tweedbank terminus on 8 April 2022.  Galashiels: Part of the interior of the new Galashiels Interchange on 20 August 2015, showing the exit onto Ladhope Vale and the station platform opposite. |
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As part of the £450 million package for the Borderlands area, £10 million was allocated by the UK and Scottish governments to proceed with work to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Edinburgh - Tweedbank Borders Railway to Carlisle.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Galashiels |
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MP John Lamont says transport officials are 'dragging their feet' over taking the line to Carlisle.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Carlisle Hawick Melrose Newcastleton St Boswells |
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Mention walking in Scotland and many people instantly dream of heading off to distant hills, tramping up Highland massifs and forging off to isles over the horizon. But as the cooler winds of autumn and the prospect of winter looms there is a walking hub in the Borders that comes into its easily accessible, but no less spectacular, own.
Then came the re-opening in 2015 of the Borders Railway, a massively welcome addition that really got me into Melrose walking and catapulted the town into the hiking spotlight. Hop off the train and youre practically on the Southern Upland Way, with Melrose just an easy stroll along the Tweed away. (Permalink) Borders Railway Melrose Walking  Tweedbank: A look west along the platforms at Tweedbank on 9 October 2019 with the hills behind Galashiels in the background. As (almost) always there is a set stabled in Platform 2 (right) leaving Edinburgh tra ...  Tweedbank: Proper bus-rail integration at Tweedbank is explored by ScotRail's John Yellowlees on 11th September 2016. |
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Electrification plans which would lead to a greener future for part of the rail network in the Borders have been disclosed.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Electrification  Gorebridge: View north over Gorebridge station from Lady Brae road bridge as the 0947 Tweedbank - Edinburgh service calls on a cold and grey Sunday morning in January 2022.  Eskbank: The 5-car 1011 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank pulls away from the platform at Eskbank on 28 April 2019. The curve onto Hardengreen Viaduct is just visible beyond the bridge.  Tynehead Junction: Probably the most short-sighted piece of infrastructure on the entire Borders Railway - Overbridge 41 at Cowbraehill between Tynehead and Falahill, looking south on 15th July. Under Transport Scotland ... |
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The Scottish government has approved calls for tenders to finance and manufacture a fleet of bi-mode battery electric multiple-units to operate on the East Kilbride [currently being electrified -RS], Fife and Borders routes.
(Permalink) Battery train Bi-mode Borders Railway Fife Circle  Inverkeithing: Vivarail battery multiple unit 230001 crawls (thankfully) through Inverkeithing heading for an overnight stop in the Yard. 29 October.  Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: The first emission-free fully-electric train to cross the iconic Forth Bridge is seen, at the Jamestown Viaduct with the Forth Bridge beyond, in this Network Rail and Vivarail aerial view as the Unite ...  Aberdeen: The BMU departing Aberdeen on the first day of public service (21st April 1958). The battery compartments are clearly visible under both vehicles. Note also the destination boards and brackets visible ... |
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Gig-goers are said to be cancelling tickets as their last train leaves before headline acts start.
(Permalink) ASLEF Borders Railway Driver shortage Galashiels MacArts Overtime Rest days ScotRail Timetabling |
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The main change is to the rush hour service which is scheduled to leave Tweedbank at 4.30pm arriving at Edinburgh Waverley at 5.28pm.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Timetabling Tweedbank: A look west along the platforms at Tweedbank on 9 October 2019 with the hills behind Galashiels in the background. As (almost) always there is a set stabled in Platform 2 (right) leaving Edinburgh tra ... |
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Trains travelling to Edinburgh's Waverley Station will leave on-time at 47-minutes past the hour. The last train leaves the Borders at 22.47hrs.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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The Borders has received a boost after ScotRail announced changes to its proposed timetable.
Initial plans would have seen half-hourly services between Edinburgh and Tweedbank run only during peak hours, with one train per hour for the rest of the day. However, following a consultation period ScotRail has revealed that it will operate half-hourly trains throughout the day on a trial basis from May. (Permalink) Borders Railway Timetabling  Stow: 158734 on the 1209 service from Edinburgh to Galashiels about to depart from Stow on 5th January 2019. |
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A recent transport report by the Scottish Government has been branded an enormous let down by a Borders MP.
The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) - which will inform investment priorities from 2022 to 2042 was released on Thursday. However, the report has been criticised for failing to directly mention an extension to the Borders Railway. (Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Hawick Melrose STPR2 St Boswells Waverley Route  Tweedbank: 170426 arrives at platform 1, Tweedbank, with a service from Edinburgh on 21st June 2021. 170408 is spare in platform 2. In the background, the Borders Innovation Park takes shape.
 St Boswells: A northbound Sunday track-lifting train approaches St Boswells in the spring of 1971. |
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Services on the Borders Railway have been suspended this morning (Sunday).
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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The Campaign For Border Rail group held an annual general meeting this weekend for the first time in its 22 year history. The meeting, which was held at Tullie House in Carlisle, heard a loud call for the extension of the border rail northwards from the city through Hawick. This is hoped that this would complete the reinstatement of the main line formerly known as the Waverley Route.
(Permalink) AGM Borders Railway Campaign for Borders Rail Carlisle Edinburgh Hawick Waverley Route  Hawick [2nd]: Deltic D9007 'Pinza' arriving at Hawick on 5 January 1969 with the northbound RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Farewell to the Waverley Route' railtour.  Teviot Viaduct: Looking south at the stump of the Waverley Route embankment through Hawick on 18 September 2013.  Hawick [2nd]: The lever frame at Hawick South signal box at Christmas time in 1968. The photograph was taken at approximately 11.30pm on 23 December with the route set for a special Edinburgh - Hawick parcels train ... |
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The extension of the Borders Railway has been described as the 'best solution' to tackle the region's transport connectivity issues.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Waverley Route  Langholm: Class 4MT 2-6-0 43139 with a passenger service at Langholm on 16th March 1961.  Hawick [2nd]: Platform scene at Hawick on a bright and sunny Sunday 5 January 1969, as Deltic D9007 'Pinza' prepares to leave for Edinburgh with the northbound RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Farewell to the Waverley Ro ... St Boswells: Integrated rail transport, but not for much longer. Steam meets diesel at St Boswells on the station's last day as a passenger junction, 13th June 1964. The footplate crew of the Standard Class 2 2-6- ... |
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Governments have failed on their promises to publish far-reaching transport reviews.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Campaign for Borders Rail Waverley Route |
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Services on the Borders Railway have been disrupted due to a safety inspection of the track, say officials.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Galashiels Safety inspection Stow |
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A Borders MP has promised to meet with train operator ScotRail after the company announced cuts to the Borders Railway timetable.
(Permalink) Borders Railway John Lamont Timetabling |
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Fears have been expressed that proposed cuts to the Borders Railway timetable could 'stifle' the service.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Timetabling Tweedbank: A look west along the platforms at Tweedbank on 9 October 2019 with the hills behind Galashiels in the background. As (almost) always there is a set stabled in Platform 2 (right) leaving Edinburgh tra ... |
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The extension of the Borders Railway was 'discussed at length' during a visit to Carlisle from the UK Government minister for Scotland.
(Permalink) Borderlands Growth Deal Borders Railway Iain Stewart Waverley Route |
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A rallying call for an extension of Borders Railway to Hawick not to be forced off the track has been issued by the towns concerned provost.
(Permalink) Border Union Railway Borders Railway Hawick  Hawick [2nd]: A dull and overcast day at Hawick in February 1965, with St Margarets B1 no 61344 awaiting departure time with an Edinburgh train.
 Hawick [2nd]: The RCTS Farewell to the Waverley Route railtour prepares to leave Hawick on 5 January 1969 behind Deltic D9007 Pinza. Hawick station pilot D8606 is standing over on the left while a dmu ...  Hawick [2nd]: The evocatively named Wandering Willie, one of the Reid ex-NBR Scott class D30 4-4-0s, seen backing out of the platform at Hawick in 1957, one year before its withdrawal. |
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One criticism of the Borders Railway is that it seems to take many tourists out of the Borders into the capital, and not enough the other way around.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Scottish Borders Council has granted Planning Permission in Principle (PPiP) for a mixed-use redevelopment of a historic auction mart to create a 'new town centre' for Newtown St Boswells.
Working with H&H Group Plc and Cadell Properties, Michael Laird Architects expansion masterplan proposes a mix of retail, leisure and 150 homes as well as an overhaul of the mart itself whilst a new route into the mart removes livestock transport from the historic village centre. The masterplan is also flexible to allow for the possible extension of the Borders Railway. (Permalink) Borders Railway New housing Newtown St Boswells |
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The Langholm & District Rail Group say claims the town has lost thousands of jobs in the last 20 years and would benefit if a station was opened there.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Langholm Waverley Route  Langholm: The cairn erected in Langholm marking the site of the former station and recording the departure of the last train. The cairn continues to be a focal point in the annual Langholm Common Riding celebra ...  Langholm: The Langholm branch from the OS One Inch map of 1955. Riddings Junction was on the English side of the border, but only just. My 1885 Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland lists Gilnockie only as a station, ... |
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The Borders Railway could be decarbonised within five years, Scottish Borders Council convener David Parker has claimed.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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A campaign group has told a review into the completion of a railway route that it would bring 'significant strategic benefits'.
(Permalink) Border Union Railway Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Carlisle |
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An extension of the Borders Railway into England will be looked at, now that relevant funding has been accelerated.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle Hawick Riccarton Junction Teviot Viaduct: Looking south at the stump of the Waverley Route embankment through Hawick on 18 September 2013.  Hawick [2nd]: View north at Hawick station as Waverley Route services cross there on 12 June 1968. The southbound train into which mail is being loaded is the 1445 Edinburgh - Carlisle headed by D14, one of the ear ... |
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Wintry conditions are causing disruption on the roads and railways across the Borders. Trains between Edinburgh and Tweedbank were cancelled with engineers reporting up to two feet of snow along the line.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Snow |
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Borderers with boots made for walking are invited to celebrate the beauty and magnificence of routes between the regions railway stations.
(Permalink) Book Borders Railway |
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Campaigners have called for urgent improvements to the Borders Railway after its first five years were blighted by 'fragile, inconsistent and unsatisfactory' performance.
(Permalink) Borders Railway  Tweedbank: 158 from Edinburgh arriving to form the 10.29 ex Tweedbank at Platform 1.
The 158 on platform 2 is there for much of the day.
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Plans to complete the re-opening of the Waverley Route between Edinburgh and Carlisle face a little-known potential complication - the line crosses the Border not once, but three times.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Liddel Water Waverley Route  Liddel Viaduct: An aerial view of Riddings Viaduct on the former Langholm branch (closed 1967), taken during the evening of 12 April 2015 from a drone. See image [[42976]] |
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Encouraging people to move to the Scottish countryside and reinstating branch railway lines underpin an ambitious plan to boost the rural economy to be unveiled by the SNP.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Five years ago, Queen Elizabeth II opened the largest new railway line project seen in Scotland for decades to a fanfare of excitement. [See also items on the 9th and 17th.]
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Hopes of a Borders Railway extension to Carlisle have taken a hit after the Scottish transport secretary blocked a review into cross-border transport. [See item on 9th.]
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Developers will be urged to set out what they will do for the community of Gorebridge as the latest phase of creating a new community moves forward. ... Concerns were raised by Councillor Peter Smaill about the impact of additional housing on parking at Gorebridge Railway Station, which is already at capacity. Planning convenor Russell Imrie pointed out that land had been set aside for a new Redheugh Railway Station, with the suggestion that trains on the line could alternate between stopping at Gorebridge or Redheugh. Mr Arnsdorf confirmed that the land was there for a railway halt at Redheugh but cautioned councillors that ScotRail are not going to bring that forward until they have customers there. [Railscot note: Redheugh is between Newtongrange and Gorebridge. The station site would be the location of the reversing sidings for the Lady Victoria Pit.]
(Permalink) Borders Railway Gorebridge New station Redheugh |
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The Union Connectivity Review, which could look into extending the Borders Railway, has been blocked by the Transport Secretary.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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When stand-up Nathan Cassidy entertained an audience of 38 at the Three Sisters on 24 August, it was for a moment as though Covid-19 had all been a nightmare and this could not possibly be the only surviving live event of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
(Permalink) Borders Railway COVID-19 |
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An investigation has been launched after a set of doors remained open on a train en route from Tweedbank to Edinburgh.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Train doors open |
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An industry coalition has backed the extension of the Borders Railway as a means to facilitate three-hour journeys between London and Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Borderlands.
Jim Steer, director of the High Speed Rail Group, has argued for a shift in emphasis, to make Carlisle a connecting hub for future HS2 services. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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In the week that the Borders Railway celebrated its fifth anniversary, we have reiterated our commitment to the case for the potential extension of the line.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Scottish Borders Council |
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When the Queen officially opened the Borders Railway on September 9, 2015, it was widely hoped that the new line would transform Midlothian. But five years on has it done so?
(Permalink) Borders Railway Eskbank Fifth Anniversary Gorebridge Newtongrange Re-opening Shawfair  Gorebridge: ScotRail DMU 170401, forming the 0847 Tweedbank - Edinburgh, restarts from Gorebridge on Sunday 12 July 2020. The train is about to pass below the bridge carrying Station Road.  Shawfair: The well gritted, salted and deserted platforms of Shawfair station, looking north on a cold and frosty morning in February 2019. The train just arriving at platform 2 is the 1011 (Sunday) Edinburgh W ...  Eskbank: ScotRail 158703 forming the Sunday morning 1045 Tweedbank - Edinburgh Waverley service, calls at Eskbank on 24 November 2016. |
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How has the return of a train service after more than 40 years affected one small Scottish village?
(Permalink) Borders Railway Fifth Anniversary Re-opening Stow  Stow: An Edinburgh bound services skips north through Stow without stopping.  Stow: Stow station, closed with the entire Waverley Route in 1969, reopened for the Borders Line in 2015, seen here on Sunday, 15th May 2016. Sadly, the building has not been revived for railway use. Rebuil ...  Stow: Looking north along the Waverley route from the road bridge crossing the trackbed at Stow station on 19 October 2011, with the sky starting to brighten following a shower of rain. |
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Transport bosses have vowed to continue looking at options to extend the Borders Railway as the longest line to be built in Scotland in a century marks five years of successful operation today.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Borders Railway Extension Fifth Anniversary Re-opening  Hassendean: Around a mile south of Hassendean station is this extremely long footbridge at Hassendeanburn Farm. The view looks south from the infilled cutting. [Ref query 2 January 2018]  St Boswells: The former bay platform and west wall of the old locomotive shed at St Boswells, gradually returning to nature in November 2007. |
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Today marks the fifth anniversary of the official opening of the Borders Railway by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Fifth Anniversary Re-opening |
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A DVD about the Borders Railway has been released to coincide with its fifth anniversary.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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It's now five years since the opening of the Borders Railway, and its success since then is being touted as evidence of the need for it to be extended into England.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Tweedbank |
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Extending the Borders Railway ought to be part of UK prime minister Boris Johnson's £5bn bid to get the country's economy back on track after the coronavirus lockdown, according to campaigners.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Boris Johnson Covid-19 |
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A new report has been welcomed by campaigners as further endorsement of the case for extending the Borders Railway south into England.
(Permalink) Borders Railway HS2 |
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Extending the Borders Railway into England would help redress the damage being done to the regions economy by the ongoing coronavirus lockdown, according to campaigners.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Covid-19 |
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Campaigners say taking the Borders line on to Carlisle could be a vital post-coronavirus project.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Covid-19 |
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Angry ScotRail passengers condemned the cancellation of ten trains on the Borders Railway today as among the worst disruption since it re-opened. The train operator blamed staff shortages after five of the last seven services of the day were halted. It comes days after trains on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank line were so crowded passengers were forced to stand crammed into toilets.
(Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Passengers on the Borders Railway are still suffering volatile punctuality and poor service, two years after its opening teething troubles should have been sorted, according to campaigners. The line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank also suffers from stops being missed and overcrowding, said rail consultant and author David Spaven.
(Permalink) Borders Railway David Spaven Service  Tweedbank: A train from Edinburgh arriving at Tweedbank platform 1 on 29 September 2016 alongside a unit stabled in platform 2.  Falahill Summit: The late running 1253 Edinburgh - Tweedbank meets light rain as it rounds the curve at Falahill on 4 August 2016. |
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Tributes have been paid to a Glasgow councillor and 'towering figure' in local politics who has died aged 59.
Labour councillor and former train driver Alistair Watson died suddenly at his home on Wednesday evening. [Alistair Watson delivered the Larkhall re-opening, without which there might not be Alloa, Airdrie-Bathgate and Borders. -Ed] (Permalink) Airdrie-Bathgate Alistair Watson Alloa Borders Railway Larkhall |
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Emergency work to deal with a Midlothian coal waste bing that is over-heating is due to start next week.
On Monday 30 January, contractors working for the Coal Authority will start the process of digging out the waste around the hot-spot on the Kirkhill Tip, which forms part of the Gore Glen Woodland Park at Gorebridge. The public have been excluded from this part of the 108-acre park since the coal tip began to spontaneously combust last summer. It is now burning both above and below ground, making the area highly unstable, particularly as the site lies between the busy A7 and The Borders railway line. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Arniston Colliery Engine Pit: Last remaining building at the Arniston Engine colliery site, north of Engine Road, in 2002. This building had tub roads inside see image [[50567]] and was close to the site of the small gasworks. The ...  Arniston Colliery Emily Pit: The once intensely mined area to the north of Gorebridge has undergone considerable change since closure of the last pits. Various reminders of its industrial past still remain however, this one a leg ...  Arniston Colliery Emily Pit: Embankment in the woods. Scene to the west of Gorebridge on 10 April 2016. On the right is the walking route that now runs south from Engine Road, around a quarter of a mile to the north, with a cord ... |
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New data has shown a 'significant improvement' in tourism levels after the opening of the Borders Railway.
The Scottish Tourism Economic Assessment Monitor (STEAM) statistics compared the first half of 2016 to the same period the year before. It is the first time in 10 years that every category saw improvement. The company which produces STEAM data said the most likely source for the rise in tourism activity in the Borders and Midlothian was the railway. The railway was officially opened by the Queen in September 2015. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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A £1.6m compensation claim for roads and bridges allegedly damaged during construction of the Borders Railway is to go to court next month.
The dispute between Scottish Borders Council and Network Rail started before the route opened in 2015. It centres on the condition of the A7 and other minor roads with heavy trucks and plant blamed for the damage. Talks aimed at resolving the situation have failed and it is now heading to court. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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ScotRail is hoping to ease its acute overcrowding by drafting in more trains from south of the border.
The operator also plans to switch more trains to its busiest routes, including Edinburgh-North Berwick, to help reduce the commuter crush. News of the changes come days after ScotRail announced that two daily rush hour services on the Borders Railway would be doubled in length from next week to help cope with passenger demand. Abellio, which runs ScotRail, ordered 70 new trains when it won the franchise two years ago, but the first of its two fleets will not start arriving until next autumn, and the second is now delayed until the second half of 2018. (Permalink) Abellio Borders Railway ScotRail  Hythe: A Class 321 EMU slows for the stop at Hythe station on 7th January 2012. It will call after at Colchester Town, reverse and terminate at Colchester. Private housing, a large DIY store and student flat ...  Helensburgh Central: Waiting for work. A pair of Class 320 EMUs in ScotRail blue, stabled in platform 3 (onetime platform 4) at Helensburgh Central on 23 September 2012. |
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The initial surge in passengers on the Borders Railway was reversed in the second half of its first year, official figures showed today. They reveal the 22 per cent more journeys than expected in the new line's first six months was cancelled out by its first anniversary in September.
(Permalink) Borders Railway  Shawfair: Until housing development gets going in this planned new town we are going to have to get used to Shawfair station being not much of a draw. Here on opening week there are only 7 cars in the car park ...  Galabank Junction: The first service train on the Borders Railway accelerates away from the stop at Stow towards Galabank Junction. This was the 0845 from Tweedbank, formed by 3x2 car 158 units, on 6th September 2015. C ...  Tweedbank: 'Tornado' receives attention having arrived at Tweedbank. Poor 158, until recently its kind were the centre of attention here. |
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The first minister has apologised to rail passengers in parts of Scotland after a broken-down train in Edinburgh caused severe disruption.
Nicola Sturgeon said the 'deeply regrettable' problem was caused by 'an extraordinary set of circumstances'. The early-morning breakdown between Waverley station and Haymarket affected services across the central belt. It also caused delays to trains travelling to Inverness, Aberdeen and on the Borders Railway. Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Ms Sturgeon told the chamber: 'I am sorry for the disruption that was caused this morning and also sorry for any disruption that any passenger faces on any day of the week, that is ScotRail's position and it is also mine.' (Permalink) Borders Railway Nicola Sturgeon ScotRail |
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The Borders Railway connects around 20,000 people in Galashiels and another 20,000 in Midlothian to Edinburgh. It's had a strong start, carrying over a million passengers in its first year ... The Border's success begs the question of whether there are any other suitable contenders for re-opening. In Scotland, the largest settlement without access to a railway is Levenmouth in Fife. This comprises of the towns of Leven, Methil, Kennoway and Windygates which have a total population of 37,000. It is the largest urban area in Scotland without a train service.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Levenmouth  Cameron Bridge: A view of the first train to call at the new Cameron Bridge station.
Network Rail has commissioned the signalling system on the new £116m Levenmouth Rail Link - meaning trains can use the lin ...  Cameron Bridge: Network Rail has installed the footbridge at Cameron Bridge station as part of the new £116m Levenmouth Rail Link development.
Eleven sections making up the main framework of the steel bridge ...  Cameron Bridge: A section of the core path P368/02 at Dunniface near Cameron Bridge will close to the public from Monday November 20 until the end of May 2024. Closure of part of the Water Balk Path, which carries wa ... |
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The new Borders railway service is beset by cancellations, delays and unreliable trains, a new report has claimed.
Rail campaigners Bill Jamieson and David Spaven compiled the report from Network Rail and timetable data from the Realtime Trains website. They said it showed 'serious underperformance of the line', which re-opened in September 2015. Scotrail said it was 'determined' to find a solution to the 'challenges'. The Borders Rail Monitor report said that the line, which is run by Scotrail operator Abellio, was blighted by delays caused in part by poor infrastructure choices imposed by Transport Scotland. (Permalink) Abellio Bill Jamieson Borders Railway David Spaven ScotRail |
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A campaign group has said extending the new rail line linking Edinburgh and the Borders should be a transport priority for the region.
The Campaign for Borders Rail said the 'resounding success' of the route showed the huge demand for services. It said it appreciated the area had 'many and varied transport needs'. However, the group said those should be considered separately from the case to extend the railway south beyond its current Tweedbank terminus. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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An improvement plan to address the Borders Railway's 'unacceptable' performance has been ordered by transport minister Humza Yousaf, it was revealed today. The move came as the first-year passenger journey total for the Edinburgh-Tweedbank route was expected to top 1.4 million - around 20 per cent above target. ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster and transport minister Humza Yousaf cut a cake to celebrate Borders Railway's first birthday Mr Yousaf told The Scotsman said: 'Performance on this line in my view has not been acceptable. 'I am pleased the ScotRail Alliance has put together an improvement plan. 'I will push them to do that as quickly as possible, and expect reliability to be significantly improved.' Scotland on Sunday revealed last month that train performance on the £350 million railway hit a new low at the beginning of August. ScotRail figures showed only about one in four trains - 28.4 per cent - arrived on time. Campaigners said their figures showed the situation was even worse and said the 'shocking' number of delays and cancellations had reached 'epidemic' proportions.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Humza Yousaf Phil Verster ScotRail |
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Signalling problems have caused delays and cancellations on the Borders Railway on the day it reached the first anniversary of its opening.
ScotRail said disruption on the route between Tweedbank and Edinburgh was expected until about 19:00. A train shuttle service was running between Newcraighall and Tweedbank with a bus replacement between Newcraighall and Edinburgh. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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This day last year marked one of the most remarkable achievements in British railway history. The opening of the line to Tweedbank ended the Scottish Borders' unwanted 46-year status as the only region of Britain without a train service “ with the 30 miles of new Borders Railway constituting the longest line ever re-opened in the country.
(Permalink) Borders Railway David Spaven |
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The Borders Railway between Edinburgh and Tweedbank has reached the first anniversary of its opening.
The first services ran on the multi-million pound route on 6 September 2015 with the official opening by the Queen three days later. It exceeded forecast usage figures of 650,000 passengers a year within its first six months. However, there have been some problems with overcrowding and cancellations which ScotRail has pledged to tackle. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail  Edinburgh Waverley: Crowds pour off the (bang-on-time) 09.40 arrival of the first ScotRail train from Tweedbank at Waverley on Sunday 6th September.  Newtongrange: 'Hello there! It's good to be back!' The first scheduled passenger train on the Borders Railway calls at Newtongrange on 6 September 2015 on its way from Tweedbank to Edinburgh.  Galashiels: The crowds continue to enjoy the Borders Railway throughout the brilliantly sunny opening day as the 1404 from Edinburgh arrives at Galashiels on 6th September 2015. |
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A spate of breakdowns on Scotland's new flagship railway has been blamed on a fleet-wide fault affecting the route's newly-refurbished Class 158 trains which causes them to overheat in hot weather.
ScotRail is seeking replacement radiators for the diesel trains, which are used on several lines including the Borders Railway, in a bid to iron out the flaw which is believed to have been a factor in at least 18 service cancellations on the new Edinburgh-Tweedbank route over the summer. The two-car units are notoriously the least reliable in the ScotRail fleet, but industry magazine, 'Rail', reports that the company has linked the latest problem with the Class 158s to hot weather. (Permalink) Borders Railway Class 158 ScotRail Weather |
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Campaigners have hit out at the 'shambles' on the Borders Railway as just 28% of trains arrived on time at the start of August.
New ScotRail figures also revealed more than 70 trains were cancelled over the first ten days of the month. Blame was placed on various problems including track and train faults, a driver on sick leave and a fallen tree. ScotRail said the Borders Railway is subject to 'occasional technical faults' in common with the rest of the network. The line, which was launched in September last year, has had more passengers than expected. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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Train punctuality on the Borders Railway has sunk to a new low as Scotland’s newest line prepares to celebrate its first birthday. Campaigners have condemned “shocking†recent performance and said delays and cancellations had reached “epidemic†proportions. ScotRail figures show only about one in four trains – 28.4 per cent – arrived on time at the start of this month. In addition, at least 70 trains were cancelled over the first ten days of August. These have been blamed on track and train faults, a driver on sick leave and a fallen tree.
(Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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A ScotRail manager was taken off duty after giving the all-clear for a train to travel through a red signal on the Borders Railway during yesterday’s conductors strike.
The incident triggered an investigation and the train was cancelled, forcing passengers to wait one hour for the next service. News of the safety breach came as conductors were due to stage a second 24-hour walkout tomorrow, with further stoppages planned for Saturday and Sunday. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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Major Scottish transport projects like dualling the A9 and extending Edinburghs tram line could cost up to seven times as much as similar European schemes, experts have revealed.
Construction of the Borders Railway and the Fastlink busway in Glasgow were also found by Edinburgh Napier University to have been more expensive than those on the continent. Researchers at its Transport Research Institute (TRI) said factors could include fewer bids for Scottish projects and a larger numbers of subcontractors doing the work pushing up costs. [From Crinan Dunbar] (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Small towns on the Borders railway route have been 'regenerated and reinvigorated' by the opening of the line, campaigners have said.
The line, from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, opened last year at a cost of £350m and carried almost 700,000 people in its first six months. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Steam train trips are set to return to the Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank during August and September.
The famous Flying Scotsman used the route earlier this year and there have been previous excursions on the line. Scottish Borders Council has described the trips as a 'superb success' and said it hoped they would return to the region. They are now set to run along the route every Sunday in August and September this year. The trains used for the trips will be the recently restored Royal Scot which was built in 1927 and the Union of South Africa which dates back to 1937. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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The latest figures show almost 700,000 people travelled on the Borders Railway during its first six months of operation.
The usage level is 22% more than was forecast for the route from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the passenger numbers further justified the decision to restore rail services to the region after more than 40 years. The multi-million pound route opened in September last year. Before the line opened, forecasters predicted it would carry almost 650,000 passengers a year. It has already exceeded that level within its first six months. Rail campaigners have previously described the usage predictions as 'ludicrously pessimistic' and said they were not surprised by the popularity of the line. (Permalink) Borders Railway Humza Yousaf  Tweedbank: Full house at the terminus as the steam special brought in by 60009 prepares for its departure from Platform 2 at 14.38, headed by the out-of-sight 67026, and 158782 forms a subsequent service for Wav ... Galashiels: The crowds continue to enjoy the Borders Railway throughout the brilliantly sunny opening day as the 1404 from Edinburgh arrives at Galashiels on 6th September 2015. |
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The Flying Scotsman locomotive is expected to return to Scotland next year while ScotRail will run steam trains on the Borders Railway this summer, The Scotsman has learned.
The news comes days after the world’s most famous engine attracted thousands of spectators as it travelled through the Borders and Fife on Sunday. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail  Levisham: 60103 'Flying Scotsman' approaching Levisham on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 12 March 2016.  Milnthorpe: The inaugural public run of restored 60103 Flying Scotsman on 6th Feburary 2016 started in appalling weather but, despite this, vantage points were full of spectators. Soon after departure from ...  Tweedbank: A new generation of enthusiast enjoying the Flying Scotsman at Tweedbank. |
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EXTENDING the Borders Railway to Carlisle is “a realistic prospectâ€, according to Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
The Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - the Scottish constituency closest to Carlisle - has pledged to work with the Scottish Government to deliver the SNP’s manifesto pledge to explore extending the recently re-opened railway line to England. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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HUNDREDS of people queued to get a closer look at the world’s most famous locomotive yesterday after Flying Scotsman arrived in Tweedbank following a historic first trip on the re-opened Borders Railway.
Steam fans lined the 35-mile route from Edinburgh, with spectators thronging station platforms, footbridges and fields to watch the 93-year-old engine steam by. (Permalink) Borders Railway Network Rail |
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The Flying Scotsman will be allowed to run on the Borders Railway and Forth Bridge after a climbdown by Network Rail.
Excursion operators were told on Friday the trip must be cancelled because it could not be sure the engine was suitable for the line. Scottish Transport Minister Derek Mackay said Network Rail had now reversed the decision. He had earlier branded the cancellation a 'debacle' and called for an inquiry. Hundreds of steam enthusiasts are planning to turn out to watch the newly-restored locomotive run on the Borders line, which re-opened last September. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Plans to run the newly-rebuilt Flying Scotsman steam locomotive on the Borders rail line have been stopped at the last minute by Network Rail.
Steam Dreams, which will operate the excursion, said the late notice cancellation - at 16:40 on Friday - was 'an absolute disgrace'. The Flying Scotsman will operate between York and Edinburgh, before a diesel engine is expected to take over. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Passengers are suffering “substantial inconvenience†from a series of faults plaguing Scotland’s newest railway, with disruption nearly every day so far this month.
A log of incidents passed to The Scotsman shows more than 80 trains have been cancelled or delayed on the Borders line since 31 March. They include a range of faults to the signalling system, which was installed during construction of the £350 million Edinburgh-Tweedbank line, which opened last September. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Newcraighall: Ahh, the novelty of boarding a train at Newcraighall - and going south. I'm just about to do so as a 4-car 158 pulls in heading for Tweedbank on 8 September 2015, the third day of Borders rail service ...  Eskbank: 158721, on a Borders Railway service heading towards Edinburgh, slows for the Eskbank stop on the late afternoon of Sunday 28th February 2016.  Bowshank North Bridge: The 1745 Tweedbank-Edinburgh heads north in increasing snow from Bowshank Tunnel. Nice to finally see this location open - walking through the tunnel during the closed period would often find farm mac ... |
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A council report has outlined details of the financial commitment given in order to 'maximise the economic benefits' of the Borders Railway.
A blueprint to 'stimulate business growth, generate employment and boost visitor numbers' was launched in November 2014. The current cost of projects associated with it is more than £17m. Scottish Borders Council has committed more than £7m of capital and revenue funding to the schemes. The multi-million pound line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in the Borders opened to passengers last year. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Politicians from across the spectrum have been giving their views on plans for a feasibility study on extending the Borders Railway.
Nicola Sturgeon announced this week that if an SNP government was re-elected it would commit to a study. Labour, the Lib Dems, Conservatives and Scottish Greens have also given their backing to such a report. The multi-million pound line between Edinburgh and the Borders opened to passengers last year. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Midlothian groups are flocking to “adopt†local stations to make railway platforms and surroundings more welcoming and people-friendly.
“Travellers will soon see the fruit of plans to improve the appearance of Eskbank, Gorebridge, Newtongrange and Shawfair stations, together with Galashiels and Stow,†said Carol Byers, chairman of the Borders Railway Community Partnership (BRCP), which is backing the grass-roots initiative along with operator Abellio ScotRail. (Permalink) Abellio Borders Railway ScotRail Station Adoption |
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COUNCILLORS have issued a “wish list†of improvements they want to see implemented on the £353m Borders Railway.
With Easter heralding the first summer season for the new line, Scottish Borders Council’s executive has identified a range of issues it wants addressed by Network Rail, the state-owned owners of Scotland’s railway infrastructure. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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A list of proposals has been drawn up to enhance the long-term future of the Borders Railway - including extending the line to Carlisle.
Scottish Borders Council is being asked to endorse the response to a consultation by Network Rail. The Scotland Route Study will inform future infrastructure provision around the country between 2019 and 2029. The council has drawn up a string of suggestions on how rail routes in the region could be improved. They fall into a number of 'key elements'. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Hassendean: A View from the Bridge I. Looking south from the bridge over the Waverley route south of Hassendean station in the 1960s as A1 Pacific no 60152 Holyrood approaches with an Edinburgh bou ...  Kelso Junction: The last freight from Kelso held at Kelso Junction on 29 March 1968 while a northbound train passes on the Waverley route. Locomotive D3891 is carrying the unofficial Kelso Lad headboard see im ... St Boswells: Integrated rail transport, but not for much longer. Steam meets diesel at St Boswells on the station's last day as a passenger junction, 13th June 1964. The footplate crew of the Standard Class 2 2-6- ... |
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The Borders Railway between Tweedbank and Edinburgh has passed the 500,000 passenger mark less than five months after it opened.
The line opened to the public in September last year. More than 125,000 people used it in its first month and the total has now gone past half a million. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Campaigners say the closure of the West Coast Main Line due to storm damage has strengthened their case to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle.
Repair works are expected to continue at the Lamington Viaduct in South Lanarkshire until March. The Campaign for Borders Rail said taking the line beyond its Tweedbank terminus would create an alternative route between Edinburgh and Carlisle. A feasibility study is planned into the viability of lengthening the route. The Edinburgh to Tweedbank line opened to passengers last year but the CBR would like to see that taken on to Carlisle in due course. 'The current terminus of the Borders Railway at Tweedbank between Galashiels and Melrose should only be regarded as temporary,' said chairman Allan McLean. (Permalink) Borders Railway Carlisle |
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The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation for the next Wales and Borders rail franchise.
In early 2017, the Welsh Government is expecting to assume responsibility from the Department for Transport (DfT) to award franchises for its domestic rail services. The new Wales and Borders franchise, which starts in 2018, includes proposals for a metro-style rail service around Cardiff and South East Wales. Transport Minister Edwina Hart said: “For the first time decisions about our railway services will be taken in Wales to ensure we have the high quality, effective, and affordable service we need. “I am expecting real benefits to passengers, including faster journey times, higher quality services, improved reliability and less overcrowding. [From Richard Buckby] (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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The Borders Railway is on track to smash its passenger target after a surge in demand to travel on the reopened route.
More than 350,000 people used the new Waverley line in the first three months of its existence. The total is more than half of the annual passenger figure of 647,000 that was projected for the 30-mile Edinburgh to Tweedbank route. Business owners have reported that profits have soared since the line re-opened in September, while Abbotsford, the area's most famous tourist attraction, has reported a 63 percent increase in takings. (Permalink) Borders Railway Newtongrange: 'Hello there! It's good to be back!' The first scheduled passenger train on the Borders Railway calls at Newtongrange on 6 September 2015 on its way from Tweedbank to Edinburgh. Tweedbank: Full house at the terminus as the steam special brought in by 60009 prepares for its departure from Platform 2 at 14.38, headed by the out-of-sight 67026, and 158782 forms a subsequent service for Wav ... Galashiels: The crowds continue to enjoy the Borders Railway throughout the brilliantly sunny opening day as the 1404 from Edinburgh arrives at Galashiels on 6th September 2015. |
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The mispronunciation of a Borders village on the region's new railway service will finally be fixed in the New Year, ScotRail has announced.
For more than three months, passengers on the Borders Railway have listened to recordings announcing a stop at Stow - to rhyme with toe. Stow should be pronounced to rhyme with cow. [From Richard Buckby] (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail  Eskbank: '...and you!' Looking south along the Waverley route towards Hardengreen Roundabout on 4 June 2011, with the site of the new Eskbank station just behind the camera. The lady in the foreground ... |
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An MP has said there are 'encouraging signs' that the 'fantastic vision' of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle could be realised.
Calum Kerr made the claim in a piece written for the Campaign for Borders Rail newsletter. The MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk said he believed cross-party and cross-border support was possible. A feasibility study is already planned into the potential of extending the route beyond its Tweedbank terminus. The multi-million pound route between Edinburgh and the Borders opened to passengers earlier this year. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Steam trains should return to the Borders Railway next year despite the disruption they caused, according to Scottish Borders Council.
The service was hugely popular when it ran on the new line for six weeks earlier this year. However it caused delays and disruption to the main commuter service on the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank. Rob Dickson, the council's corporate transformation and services director, said it was a 'price worth paying'. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Tweedbank: Journey’s end. 60009 Union of South Africa at Tweedbank on 9th September with the Royal Train.  Fushiebridge [2nd]: 60163 'Tornado' charges up the gradient through Fushiebridge.  Glenesk: Preserved A4 Pacific 60009 Union of South Africa passing the site of Glenesk Colliery with an Edinburgh - Tweedbank steam special on 10 September 2015. |
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Passengers are suffering a “miserable†service on the new Borders Railway, with more than two in three trains arriving late, campaigners have complained.
Cancellations have added to the disruption on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank line, with seven services not running on one day last week because of faulty trains. Supporters of the route blamed the poor punctuality on ScotRail using its least reliable trains, along with cutbacks to the length of double track, which hampers trains being able to pass each other. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail Galabank Junction: The first service train on the Borders Railway accelerates away from the stop at Stow towards Galabank Junction. This was the 0845 from Tweedbank, formed by 3x2 car 158 units, on 6th September 2015. C ...  Fushiebridge [2nd]: ScotRail 158733 running south through the site of Fushiebridge station on 9 July 2015 on a driver training turn. The new footbridge in the background has recently been completed. |
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A charity is taking Network Rail to a tribunal over the money offered after the compulsory purchase of a bridge to carry the new Borders railway.
The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust has been offered £10,000 for the Glenesk Viaduct in Midlothian. It says that 'woefully undervalues' the £300,000 it spent on preserving and maintaining the structure. A Lands Tribunal hearing in Edinburgh, scheduled to run over two days, will examine the claim. The Edinburgh-based organisation bought the viaduct in 1992 when it was under threat of demolition and turned it into a walking and cycle route. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Glenesk Viaduct: Plate attached to Glenesk Viaduct - May 2007. See image [[51725]]  Glenesk Viaduct: The view south over Glenesk Viaduct from the hillside on 22 February. The Dalkeith branch left the Waverley route at Glenesk Junction on the far side of the viaduct.  Glenesk Viaduct: View over the graceful Glenesk Viaduct, some 6 miles from Edinburgh, looking south in 2002. The split of the Waverley route and the line to Dalkeith occurred at Glenesk Junction on the far side. The v ... |
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A station in Langholm will be considered as part of a potential future extension of the Borders Railway to Carlisle.
The Scottish government has confirmed the prospect would be explored as part of a planned feasibility study. The commitment has come from Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown. [From Mark Bartlett] (Permalink) Borders Railway  Langholm: The 10.48 Saturday morning train to Carlisle pulls away from the platform at Langholm on 14 September 1963 with Ivatt 2-6-0 no 43045 in charge.  Langholm: The branch train for Riddings Junction heads south out of Langholm station on 12th April 1964, just a couple of months before withdrawal of passenger services.  Langholm: The Langholm branch train runs alongside the A7 about a mile south of the town heading for Carlisle in 1962. Nowadays the bridge over the Esk is controlled by traffic lights. For the scene forty-eight ... |
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More than 125,000 journeys have been made on the new Borders Railway during its first month in operation, according to ScotRail.
The Tweedbank to Edinburgh line opened to the public on 6 September. ScotRail said public interest in the new route had 'soared' after nearly a week of celebrations and the official opening by the Queen. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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SCOTRAIL is so short of trains following the opening of the Borders Railway that it may be forced to hire extra carriages to cope with booming demand across the network. Travellers on the line have complained of overcrowding – as have commuters on routes across the Central Belt.
(Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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PROVIDING more carriages to ease overcrowding on the Borders Railway could involve taking them from other lines, ScotRail said yesterday.
The train operator announced it was doubling the length of Sunday services and peak-hour Saturday services to four coaches on the new route after The Scotsman revealed some trains were so packed passengers were unable to board. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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Extra carriages will be added to ease congestion on the new Borders Rail service after passengers complained that they were being “packed in like sardinesâ€.
The operator, ScotRail, has been criticised after delays and overcrowding blighted its new service, which was officially opened by the Queen a week ago. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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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. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
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The Borders Railway was officially opened by the Queen on Wednesday.
On the day Her Majesty became the longest-reigning monarch, she boarded a steam train to make a special trip from Edinburgh to Tweedbank via Newtongrange. The Union of South Africa carried the royal party and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon along the route. (Permalink) Borders Railway  Heriot: The last scheduled freight to Hawick photographed in April 1969 on the level crossing at Heriot.  Galashiels [1st]: In the rain at Galashiels in April 1950. NB 4.4.0 62490 Glen Fintaig waits at the head of the 4:10pm train to Edinburgh via Peebles.  Bowland: Scene on the Waverley route some 30 miles south of Edinburgh, thought to have been taken on 25 April 1964. Hawick shed's BR Standard class 4 2-6-0 no 76050 works hard with a northbound train at Bowlan ... |
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The launch of the Borders Railway has, as I'm sure everyone can imagine, resulted in a flood of submissions to Railscot.
While less than 50% of these photographs will be used on the website they are all appreciated nonetheless. One issue which has been highlighted of late however is the increasingly large number of submissions now received which are often referred to as 'family and friends', 'pseudo-selfies' or 'self-publicity' images, where, in some cases, the railway-related subject matter can appear almost incidental. If you are one of the various contributors who has submitted such an item recently please do not take it personally if this material is not used on the Railscot website. Thank you for your understanding. Editor (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Trains are returning to the Scottish Borders after 46 years with the opening of the longest new domestic railway built in Britain for over a century.
The old Waverley Line through the region shut in 1969. The new Borders Railway runs between Tweedbank and Edinburgh and was built at a cost of £294m. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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Trains will run on the Borders railway for the first time in more than 40 years when the Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank service resumes on Sunday.
The reopening has given hope to other rail campaigners across Scotland, including those who want to see the lines to Levenmouth and St Andrews reopened. BBC Scotland transport correspondent David Miller has been to Fife to find out more about the campaign. (Permalink) Borders Railway Levenmouth St Andrews  Leuchars: Formerly Leuchars Junction, the current Leuchars Station is seen looking north on 19 May 2005. The infilled bay was used by trains serving St Andrews and the Fife coast route. The St Andrews branch fi ...  St Andrews [2nd]: View east towards the site of St Andrews station (1887-1969) in the spring of 2011. Station road on the left now leads up to the recently rebuilt bus station, with Hope Park Church spire standing in t ...  St Andrews [2nd]: J37 No 64569 meets a photographic scrum at the south end of St Andrews station during the 1965 RCTS Fife Coast railtour. The J37 had taken over from No 256 Glen Douglas at Leuchars Junct ... |
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Specially selected passengers are to take a trip on the Borders to Edinburgh railway a day ahead of its opening to the general public.
The owners of a Golden Ticket will travel on three trains which will leave Tweedbank, Galashiels and Stow, each carrying 160 passengers. Many have special links to the line having campaigned for its return or been involved in the old Waverley line. Others making the trip were nominated by the public or won competitions. The 30 miles of new track between Tweedbank in the Borders and Edinburgh opens to the public on Sunday. (Permalink) Borders Railway |
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As we near the opening of the new Borders Railway, our reporter Matthew Taylor has been looking back at the history of the Waverley Line, which closed amid fierce protests in 1969.
Watch his full report... (Permalink) Borders Railway  Hawick [2nd]: Scene at Hawick on the last Saturday of passenger sevices over the Waverley Route, 4 January 1969. On the platform is a group of protestors, complete with symbolic black coffin, addressed to transport ...  Shankend Viaduct: Deltic D9018 Ballymoss crossing Shankend Viaduct with the diverted 1A16 Kings Cross - Aberdeen ECML service on Sunday 16 July 1967. The diversion was a consequence of the derailment of the prev ...  Newcastleton: Site of the old level crossing at Newcastleton, looking south in 2007, a scene of peace and tranquility... unlike one cold January night in 1969, when protesters blocked the crossing, resulting in the ... |
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ScotRail has revealed the first of 40 new-look trains which will be rolled out across Scotland over the next three years.
The trains will feature better seats, improved toilets and power sockets to allow travellers to charge their phone or laptop. The first carriage will leave the depot on Wednesday and be ready for the opening of the new Borders Railway. (Permalink) Borders Railway ScotRail |
KML version
