Borders Railway - Now Open

ainsworth74 · 6 Sep 2015

So is it going to be six-car all day on all diagrams? What are loadings like so far?

I've bought my ticket for today from the guard on my VTEC service and they didn't even bat an eye at it. Kinda thought they might comment on it but perhaps they've already sold loads to others on my train!

RailUK Forums

PaulJ · 6 Sep 2015

Congratulations on the opening of a new stretch of railway in the Scots Borders today. News reports state it as being the longest new domestic railway built in Britain for over a century (BBC). Without wishing to p*ss on their parade, wouldn't HS1 take this title?

Altfish · 6 Sep 2015

PaulJ said:
Congratulations on the opening of a new stretch of railway in the Scots Borders today. News reports state it as being the longest new domestic railway built in Britain for over a century (BBC). Without wishing to p*ss on their parade, wouldn't HS1 take this title?

Is HS1 domestic? It may now have domestic services but its prime purpose is international.

Techniquest · 6 Sep 2015

So can't wait to get onto it tomorrow, well excited!

Me and Blindtraveller are planning to be on the 1024 from Edinburgh tomorrow, let us know if you're going to be on it and wish to join the social!

Altfish · 6 Sep 2015

I'm travelling up from Manchester next week for a ride

najaB · 6 Sep 2015

Altfish said:
Is HS1 domestic? It may now have domestic services but its prime purpose is international.

Wow, it's like Groundhog Day (the film) - this is the third time this specific sub-discussion has come up in the last couple of weeks!

Altfish · 6 Sep 2015

najaB said:
Wow, it's like Groundhog Day (the film) - this is the third time this specific sub-discussion has come up in the last couple of weeks!

It's great if you have the time to read all previous posts

najaB · 6 Sep 2015

Altfish said:
It's great if you have the time to read all previous posts

Well, the most recent was just yesterday...

47271 · 6 Sep 2015

Altfish said:
It's great if you have the time to read all previous posts

To help those interested, posts 1340-1352 in this thread provide ample debate of this side topic.

Altfish · 6 Sep 2015

najaB said:
Well, the most recent was just yesterday...

I'm sure it was, but the original post which I answered was on a new thread which was merged with this thread after I responded.

Shinkansenfan · 6 Sep 2015

Any recommendations for scenic photo locations? I plan to photograph the Union of South Africa, plus the regular Class 158s.

I plan to travel by train, so am limited to locations within walking distance of the railway station.

Perusing aerial photos, one idea may be a photo towards the east from a country road north of Stow Station. Of course that station has only hourly service.

Other suggestions welcome.

thealexweb · 6 Sep 2015

On Wednesday, when will the Union of South Africa be in Edinburgh? And when will the Queen arrive?

fegguk · 6 Sep 2015

Shinkansenfan said:
Any recommendations for scenic photo locations? I plan to photograph the Union of South Africa, plus the regular Class 158s.

I plan to travel by train, so am limited to locations within walking distance of the railway station.

Perusing aerial photos, one idea may be a photo towards the east from a country road north of Stow Station. Of course that station has only hourly service.

Other suggestions welcome.

Stow is not a bad location a short walk northward from the station along the back road and you will get her coming round the bend at gala bank on to the double track junction and all the way to the the cutting just North of the station. you will get the shot at the end of this video in reverse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GjcIb7wPYk or at 2 mins in this video a little further north. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOLRe2ITMV4. Check out the other videos for other location. The only problem is that its down hill at stow, she will be working hardest on the 1:70 at Borthwick bank South of Gore bridge should be epic but will be a bit of a trek from the station at Gorebridge.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sadly the great weekend is over. You might just get a chance to re-live this morning events at Tweedbank here before bedtime.

https://youtu.be/VIFTBB0ox_Y

JonathanH · 6 Sep 2015

thealexweb said:
On Wednesday, when will the Union of South Africa be in Edinburgh? And when will the Queen arrive?

It should be possible to get a rough idea of the Queen's movements by the cancellations on Wednesday.

From the Scotrail website

Wednesday 9 September

To facilitate the special Royal steam train, the following services will not operate. Due to road closures, we wont be able to deliver a replacement bus service.

10:54 Edinburgh - Tweedbank
13:54 Edinburgh - Tweedbank
09:59 Tweedbank - Edinburgh
10:28 Tweedbank - Edinburgh
14:59 Tweedbank - Edinburgh

There will be alterations to the following services:

10:59 Tweedbank to Edinburgh calls additionally at Stow, and will omit calls at Shawfair and Brunstane
10:24 Edinburgh to Tweedbank will omit call at Newtongrange
12:24 Edinburgh to Tweedbank will omit calls at Shawfair and Brunstane

The following services will start/terminate at Gorebridge:

11:25 Edinburgh - Tweedbank (terminates Gorebridge at 11:51)
11:28 Tweedbank to Edinburgh (begins Gorebridge at 11:58)
11:54 Edinburgh - Tweedbank (terminates Gorebridge at 12:22)
11:59 Tweedbank to Edinburgh (begins Gorebridge at 12:28)
13:25 Edinburgh - Tweedbank (terminates Gorebridge at 13:51)
12:28 Tweedbank to Edinburgh (begins Gorebridge at 12:58)
12:59 Tweedbank to Edinburgh (begins at Gorebridge 13:28)
13:28 Tweedbank to Edinburgh (begins at Gorebridge 13:58)

In addition to these cancellations and alterations, some services may have extended journey times.

It would appear likely that the Royal Train will run broadly in the path of the 1054 train but without the stops.

Shinkansenfan · 7 Sep 2015

thealexweb said:
On Wednesday, when will the Union of South Africa be in Edinburgh? And when will the Queen arrive?

This link shows the Union of South Africa running on other steam trips later this month: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-by-rail/steam-trains

fegguk said:
Stow is not a bad location a short walk northward from the station along the back road and you will get her coming round the bend at gala bank on to the double track junction and all the way to the the cutting just North of the station. you will get the shot at the end of this video in reverse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GjcIb7wPYk or at 2 mins in this video a little further north. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOLRe2ITMV4. Check out the other videos for other location. The only problem is that its down hill at stow, she will be working hardest on the 1:70 at Borthwick bank South of Gore bridge should be epic but will be a bit of a trek from the station at Gorebridge.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sadly the great weekend is over. You might just get a chance to re-live this morning events at Tweedbank here before bedtime.

https://youtu.be/VIFTBB0ox_Y

Thanks for the videos. I was afraid of Stow being located on a down grade. That's the problem with just checking aerial photos.

Blindtraveler · 7 Sep 2015

Anyone have any idea of the nearest bus stop to Stow station?

oldman · 7 Sep 2015

The Midlothian Council website has this for Newtongrange:

At approximately 10:55, the train will arrive at the station.
At 11:15, the train will continue on its journey to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.

The Borders Council website gives the following:

The Royal steam train is passing through the towns at the following times, subject to change on the day:

11.24am Heriot
11.35pm Fountainhall
11.56am Stow
12.07pm Galashiels
12.18pm Tweedbank

The train will slow down as it approaches Galashiels and will travel slowly through Galashiels only.

So it's going to be a fast climb up Borthwick (or some of the times are wrong). If the Midlothian times are right it suggests the train leaves Edinburgh before the 1024 service train.

Both councils have stuff about road closures and parking restrictions.

CheshireCrusty · 7 Sep 2015

Blindtraveler said:
Anyone have any idea of the nearest bus stop to Stow station?

It is on the A7 Galashiels Road either sides of the junction with Station Road.
The most frequent service is the X95 Edinburgh to Carlisle (normally 30 minute frequency) but expect disruption if you are going this week, due to both Tour of Britain and the Royal Train (see Traveline Scotland website for details http://www.travelinescotland.com/ti...tails.do?rid=1441612824340&hss=Twd2V272938633 .

chiltern trev · 7 Sep 2015

How busy were the 6 car trains on Sunday?

ainsworth74 · 7 Sep 2015

chiltern trev said:
How busy were the 6 car trains on Sunday?

The ones that I saw and travelled on were well loaded with most seats taken.

HarleyDavidson · 7 Sep 2015

Novelty value?

I saw an article on TV about it and the locals now seem very keen & somewhat excited by the prospect of having the trains back, with new businesses in the tourism industry being one of the main beneficiaries.

I think that once the the novelty value dies down and the service beds down, we'll see how well loaded it becomes, the one thing that will almost inevitably happen is that the locals will see their house prices rise quite markedly and once that happens I think that you'll find that the other towns along the former route will also want it back.

I for one would love to see the whole route reopened as a viable alternative to the coastal routes not only in times of disruption, but as a route through stunning countryside for tourism purposes and also for the transportation of timber from Kielder Forest.

overthewater · 7 Sep 2015

What trains are booked on this service? I had the delight of a decrepit Class 158, with worn out First class. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned.

cjt0131 · 7 Sep 2015

HarleyDavidson said:
Novelty value?

I saw an article on TV about it and the locals now seem very keen & somewhat excited by the prospect of having the trains back, with new businesses in the tourism industry being one of the main beneficiaries.

I think that once the the novelty value dies down and the service beds down, we'll see how well loaded it becomes, the one thing that will almost inevitably happen is that the locals will see their house prices rise quite markedly and once that happens I think that you'll find that the other towns along the former route will also want it back.

I for one would love to see the whole route reopened as a viable alternative to the coastal routes not only in times of disruption, but as a route through stunning countryside for tourism purposes and also for the transportation of timber from Kielder Forest.

an excellent post I must say sensible and balanced

I agree the line should go all the way to Carlisle -- as it would give those using the borders line the option of north to Edinburgh to connect with east coast or south to Carlisle to connect with the west coast

rising houses prices if that happens is not all good ---those living in the borders are often on the lower wage scale and could prevent many from getting onto the housing ladder

I have no doubt that it will generate some tourism and will bring some economic benefit to the borders but I do have concerns about money being taken out and spent up in Edinburgh

I am not in the least interested how busy the new line is today this week or this month----its next month and the months which follow that really matter

I have used my car and the bus to Edinburgh will I use the train ? of course I will but it will of course depend where exactly in Edinburgh I am going to and what I am doing when I get there and I expect many will have the same philosophy

the borders railway will do ok but it does worry me that many (Scottish borders council, Scottish government in particular) have expectations way above of what will probably happen

I will get my tin hat ready for the barrage which will no doubt come my way from certain posters on here

Altnabreac · 7 Sep 2015

overthewater said:
What trains are booked on this service? I had the delight of a decrepit Class 158, with worn out First class. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned.

It is booked for 158s.

Scotrail has broadly 4 types.

Newly refurbished (only 1 so far) looks good in photos, nicely revamped, lots of tables, plugs at all seats, new CCTV etc.

Inverness sets (about 25 sets) in reasonable condition but a bit tired.

Angel trains 8 (8 sets) a mixed bag in various liveries that are off lease in 2018 so probably won't be top of the list for TLC before then.

Haymarket sets (about 15) a fairly well worked fleet used on central belt commuter services that has seen better days but is functional and not too bad in the wider scheme of things.

Suspect it's one of the latter group you saw. As the refurbishment rolls out in the next few years it will get a lot better as the first group grows at the expense of the last group.

overthewater · 7 Sep 2015

I have feeling its one of the Angel Trains, I never seen storage unit or Toilet unit with design of the entrance next to a door.

I take it, its the Haymarket sets which are getting refurbished?

backontrack · 7 Sep 2015

Hooray! It's absolutely brilliant news that this has happened, hope they can push it through and extend it to Melrose, St Boswells and Hawick. But still, passenger services return to the Borders, and the communities of Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank find themselves reconnected to Edinburgh by the new railway line. A big thanks for everyone who made it happen.

:rf:

Glenfarg Line back now please?

Starmill · 7 Sep 2015

Haymarket's unrefurbished 170s and especially 158s are very decrepit, particularly in First Class / ex-First Class areas. There's a fair number of 170s now that have had a refurbishment that I think is quite thorough, all new carpets and seat cushions and nicer loos. They hava all got wifi but power isn't available except in First Clsss or on /3, which had it under Hull Trains (if I'm correct about that?).
There's the single 158 that's been refurbished to Transport Scotland's 'scenic' specification which I'm yet to see. Everyone I've spoken to has told me it's excellent. Yes I agree the current 158 fleet is very tatty indeed and it's a bit of a nonsense that they didn't start refurbishing earlier. Despite that I'm confident that they've been specifed well and some thought has gone into it. They'll get there!

Altnabreac · 7 Sep 2015

overthewater said:
I have feeling its one of the Angel Trains, I never seen storage unit or Toilet unit with design of the entrance next to a door.

I take it, its the Haymarket sets which are getting refurbished?

40 out of 48 sets getting refurbed by 2018. Just the off lease Angel Trains 8 that won'tget done.

They are needing it now to be honest but they aren't exactly in Merseyrail Pacer condition either.

PHILIPE · 7 Sep 2015

There seems to be some discussion about the condition etc of ScRail 158s. There is a thread oh this so one might find many of the answers there.

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=120176

Crossover · 7 Sep 2015

As with a few others, I was up on the Borders Railway yesterday afternoon. Great atmosphere and nice to see a great number of people getting involved with the whole thing - it had quite the buzz about it

As others say though, it will be more interesting to see how things go once the initial euphoria dies down

Borders Railway - Now Open

Forum Staff

RailUK Forums

Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Forum Staff

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member