Railsigns
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- 15 Feb 2010
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AFAIAA I believe that there will be provision at Tweedbank to run round an engine?
Nope.
AFAIAA I believe that there will be provision at Tweedbank to run round an engine?
Yes, rather than cancelling a complete run to/from Tweedbank it would, in my opinion, be sensible to see if it is possible to run a part route ScotRail service to/from Gorebridge.
AFAIAA I believe that there will be provision at Tweedbank to run round an engine?
I don't agree with people that it's ok to cancel services randomly. If you've got a half hourly timetable, it should be that. As soon as you start this slippery slope of punching holes in it, you ruin a certain level of confidence in it.
And just because its on Saturday doesn't make any difference - people still work on a Saturday.
To be honest this is really showing how short sighted the Scottish Govt have been here when on opening day it already looks like there isn't enough capacity to run the desired services due to the single track nature of the line.
I think a largely single-track railway with passive provision for doubling, is better than no railway at all.To be honest this is really showing how short sighted the Scottish Govt have been here when on opening day it already looks like there isn't enough capacity to run the desired services due to the single track nature of the line.
It would be very annoying to half to wait in the rain for 30 mins because of a tourist train. And just because its on Saturday doesn't make any difference - people still work on a Saturday.
We are almost certainly talking about a handful of trains a week running off-peak during the summer season, the affect on people going to and from work would be negligible and easily outweighed by the tourism benefits.
Chris
Also commuters very quickly adapt to the timetable provided and know to leave earlier or later if the service is occasionally but regularly replaced by a steam train. The passengers likely to be inconvenienced are casual leisure visitors who turn up on the day and don't wish to pay for the premium service.
You just need to work out if there wil be more of them on any given train than on your steam special.
Also commuters very quickly adapt to the timetable provided and know to leave earlier or later if the service is occasionally but regularly replaced by a steam train. The passengers likely to be inconvenienced are casual leisure visitors who turn up on the day and don't wish to pay for the premium service.
You just need to work out if there wil be more of them on any given train than on your steam special.
We are almost certainly talking about a handful of trains a week running off-peak during the summer season, the affect on people going to and from work would be negligible and easily outweighed by the tourism benefits.
Chris
I think a largely single-track railway with passive provision for doubling, is better than no railway at all.
. It's just so frustrating that the original plans to my knowledge had far more double track provision. Most of the track hasn't even been laid yet and it's already causing a problem! Seriously short sighted thinking in my eyes.
No; there's also Tweedbank.
I don't agree with people that it's ok to cancel services randomly. If you've got a half hourly timetable, it should be that. As soon as you start this slippery slope of punching holes in it, you ruin a certain level of confidence in it.
It would be very annoying to half to wait in the rain for 30 mins because of a tourist train. And just because its on Saturday doesn't make any difference - people still work on a Saturday.
To be honest this is really showing how short sighted the Scottish Govt have been here when on opening day it already looks like there isn't enough capacity to run the desired services due to the single track nature of the line.
Is it going to be always at the same time if it's just a handful though? They may want to tie it in with certain events so may vary it through the summer.
I'm not so sure in your assertion that people 'very quickly' adapt, especially when it's not year round. I guess most just assume the train leaves wherever at :22 and :52 for example, and returns from edinburgh at :14 and :44. If randomly there's no train are they going to automatically assume that it's the steam train which has taken the path?
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I'm not sure. What is the benefit of this railway? I think primarily it is to allow people in the Borders access to the Edinburgh (and wider Scottish) labour market. Also, will allow people access to cheaper housing in the borders and commute in to Edinburgh. And conversely the other way round. I don't think it's worth ruining the timetable for these trains.
There's already going to be a huge tourist impact from the 'normal' services - I don't think putting a special steam train so people can hang around galashields for a couple of hours and jump back on later again is going to be that much more.
Conversely, if I'm wrong and the tourist train specials are really successful, it's likely they will put more on. And at that point it's not a handful.
Obviously if there was capacity for both that would be great and no-one would complain but there isn't. A half hourly clockface timetable is great and a brilliant marketing point which will attract people to it. As soon as you add some small print then it loses the appeal in my eyes.
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Again, that's true. It's just so frustrating that the original plans to my knowledge had far more double track provision. Most of the track hasn't even been laid yet and it's already causing a problem! Seriously short sighted thinking in my eyes.
Is it going to be always at the same time if it's just a handful though? They may want to tie it in with certain events so may vary it through the summer.
I'm not so sure in your assertion that people 'very quickly' adapt, especially when it's not year round. I guess most just assume the train leaves wherever at :22 and :52 for example, and returns from edinburgh at :14 and :44. If randomly there's no train are they going to automatically assume that it's the steam train which has taken the path?
I'm not sure. What is the benefit of this railway? I think primarily it is to allow people in the Borders access to the Edinburgh (and wider Scottish) labour market. Also, will allow people access to cheaper housing in the borders and commute in to Edinburgh. And conversely the other way round. I don't think it's worth ruining the timetable for these trains.
Again, that's true. It's just so frustrating that the original plans to my knowledge had far more double track provision. Most of the track hasn't even been laid yet and it's already causing a problem! Seriously short sighted thinking in my eyes.
........
Based on the above mix, if the special heritage tourist trains can be added whilst still having 2tph leaving Waverley, turning every fourth one back at Gorebridge (in a consistent way throughout the summer timetable) then I'd imagine the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks....
I guess it's a bit like painting a room - you do the edges first and then fill in the plain wall.I wonder if all the point work will be installed before the ordinary track is started.
I don't know if it's been mentioned here before,but on Sunday I took a dodge past Millerhill from the Musselburgh end and took the new access road which I found strange being so used to the former road route.Anyway,what I found baffling me was why couldn't they use a spur from the former electrification yard instead? I know there's a builders yard there too,but 1) was the land adjacent to the elecrification depot not development negotiable?
2) would it have made the project more expensive?
3) will there be any possibility of using the Gilmerton line in the future?,much of it remains.
4) possibilities of reinstating the Loanhead/Penicuik line?
5) other than the EMu depot and the goings on with the borders line and the proposed energy development,,will the other sidings at Millerhill be removed and put up for sale since I very rarely see any locomotives or freight stock there these days.
Many thanks!
Ahhh,Thanks! I had thought it was to keep costs low.I couldn't for the life of me figure out how it wasn't possible to route the line via the old electrification depot.But thanks for shedding some light on the matter. Meantime if anyone is visiting the sub loop,Duddingston road West will be closed for 6 weeks on the 11th for the Bridge works. They were already digging it away when I passed yesterday evening.
A load of nearly 10 kms of nice new CWR travelled north on the ECML yesterday Fri 5th Sept). I can only guess that it was destined for the Borders route.
It was carried on flat waggons which had a central secure anchor for each stack of rail on one waggon, and adjacent waggons which held the ends on flexing cargo straps. (I regret that I don't know any terminology for the transport of rail which is longer than its conveying vehicle).