• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Borders Railway - Now Open

Status
Not open for further replies.

Polarbear

Established Member
Joined
24 May 2008
Messages
1,705
Location
Birkenhead
I'm currently on the 10:59 from Tweedbank. 158740 doing the honours solo & it's cosy to put it mildly! Could really do with a ticket office at Tweedbank.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

cjt0131

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2014
Messages
64
I have no so far had reason to use the new train service

question-----is it possible to buy tickets from machines at gala or tweedbank using cash ?
 

railjock

Member
Joined
30 Jun 2012
Messages
373
I have no so far had reason to use the new train service

question-----is it possible to buy tickets from machines at gala or tweedbank using cash ?

Card only at ticket machines. You can pay by cash on the train though.
 

najaB

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Aug 2011
Messages
30,691
Location
Scotland
Because you cannot find flaws in someone's argument or they are more eloquent than you does not mean that they are right.
True, but I put much more stock in a position reached by logic than one driven by sentiment.
 

route:oxford

Established Member
Joined
1 Nov 2008
Messages
4,949
Maybe within Mid lothian but not the borders, its still 55mins away, Heck the bus is only 15mins slower.

It would be a real shame if Borders hoteliers rejected the opportunity to have Fringe Visitors.

Hundreds stay at the Hydro in Dunblane and the various city centre hotels in Stirling.

Considerably cheaper than staying in Edinburgh during the fringe.
 

cjt0131

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2014
Messages
64
i read this with interest

http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news...ay_cancellations__shocking_and_unacceptable_/

as I am sure mr hume knows buses trains and planes get delayed and cancelled every single day---it is a hazard of public transport

over crowding happens on many forms of public transport----he maybe should speak to commuters on the fife circular

Mr Hume is not and never has been the most vocal or active MP/MSP in the Borders so why he has chosen to vent his anger at the railway I have no idea

what does he and others who are complaining want-----four cars on every service---that aint going to happen

the novelty factor is going to fade in the coming weeks--that's when we will see more true passenger numbers----I know people who will be using the railway but they have deliberately avoided it because of the high numbers--those people will be the true test of passenger numbers
 

scotsman

Established Member
Joined
6 Jul 2010
Messages
3,252
Mr Hume is not and never has been the most vocal or active MP/MSP in the Borders so why he has chosen to vent his anger at the railway I have no idea

what does he and others who are complaining want-----four cars on every service---that aint going to happen

the novelty factor is going to fade in the coming weeks--that's when we will see more true passenger numbers----I know people who will be using the railway but they have deliberately avoided it because of the high numbers--those people will be the true test of passenger numbers

I expect it's because of the amount of letters/emails he's been receiving. It looks like he's doing something if he writes to the paper.
 

PaxVobiscum

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2012
Messages
2,395
Location
Glasgow
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34592691 said:
Rail workers have been forced to clear up raw sewage dropped on the tracks of the Borders Railway.

It had been discarded from carriages pulled by the Union of South Africa steam train over the last month.

Michael Hogg, of the RMT rail union, said workers who change sleepers and maintain rails on the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank had dealt with human waste.

"It's disgusting and it's just not acceptable," he added.

The steam train transported the Queen to the Scottish Borders for the official opening of the £300m line in September.

Since then it has carried 6,500 railway enthusiasts and day-trippers on three return excursions a week.

Its run on the Borders Railway officially ended on Sunday but the popularity of the excursion means further charter trips could be arranged.

Diesel trains on the line's regular services retain human waste, but the use of older carriages to carry passengers on steam train trips skirts the rules for modern trains.

Mr Hogg said: "It's diabolical that in this day and age people have to put up with these kind of working conditions.

"It's bad enough having human waste on the tracks, but you're having workers stand back for a passing train and be sprayed with raw sewage.

"We're talking about people possibly being exposed to harmful bacteria that could cause illness and disease, such as hepatitis C."

He added: "We appreciate that these steam rail trips are very, very popular and are likely to continue, but we can't accept the use of old rolling stock which fails to prevent waste ending up on the tracks."

ScotRail confirmed that steam train toilets were not fitted with tanks to collect human waste.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) gave the rail firm permission to allow customers to use toilets between stations on the Borders Railway steam trips.

Onboard toilets remained locked when the train was stabled in or near a station.

A spokeswoman for the ScotRail Alliance said: "The line has been closely monitored and, now that the last steam train has run on the line, our specialist team will carry out a full track clean."

The Rail Unions are getting quite browned off about this - especially after the recent ScotRail announcement on retention tanks.

I do hope Tweedbank isn't beginning to look like (don't look if you are having your tea just now) this station in Wales featured recently on RailScot.
 
Last edited:

Blindtraveler

Established Member
Joined
28 Feb 2011
Messages
9,600
Location
Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
Whilst I understand why they're upset, surely they knew it would happen with older hauled stock running? Maybe time for a couple dedicated retention fitted MK2 rakes to be based at Millerhill?

The most logical place for a Borders Booking Office would be in the Interchange Building at Gala IMO.
 

Daz9284

Member
Joined
26 Sep 2014
Messages
229
Location
Sherburn in Elmet
Maybe time for a couple dedicated retention fitted MK2 rakes to be based at Millerhill?

The stock they were using was hired in Mk1's. I dopn't think there are any retention fitted Mk'2s in Maroon colours, and the cost to do this would out-weigh the money received for hiring the stock. And Mk2's were diesel hauled, not steam hauled.

It's the same on the highway when workeres have to work on the verges strimming grass etc, to be met by a bottle of ****** or a bag of $hite that a disgusting filthy lorry driver has thrown out of their vehicle.

regards,
Darryl
 

mcmad

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2015
Messages
977
Are 158's now fitted with tanks then? I know there are plans to fit to all stock (eventually) but pretty sure its not just the specials spraying at the moment. Assume that 170's were fitted from new.
 

najaB

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Aug 2011
Messages
30,691
Location
Scotland
Are 158's now fitted with tanks then? I know there are plans to fit to all stock (eventually) but pretty sure its not just the specials spraying at the moment. Assume that 170's were fitted from new.
Pretty sure they were all fitted over the last few years. In this thread it was stated that only the 156s that aren't so equipped..
 

cjt0131

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2014
Messages
64
It's the same on the highway when workeres have to work on the verges strimming grass etc, to be met by a bottle of ****** or a bag of $hite that a disgusting filthy lorry driver has thrown out of their vehicle.

regards,
Darryl

very very unfair comment about lorry drivers
 

Daz9284

Member
Joined
26 Sep 2014
Messages
229
Location
Sherburn in Elmet
very very unfair comment about lorry drivers

I don't see why? Do you think it's acceptable to wee in a bottle, or crap in a bag, and throw it out of a moving vehicle? A) it's illegal, and B) the person carrying out strimming hits said bottle/bag and gets covered, with NO warning.

Service stations and depots have toilets and bins!
 

ian1944

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2012
Messages
501
Location
North Berwick
I treated myself to a ride between Waverley and Gala today, too dreich to get much from the scenery but at least each time the two coaches were only comfortably filled - out 10.24, back 12.32. As others have said, the copious use of galvanised fencing is unaesthetic - I wonder how much the difference would have been, in terms of time and cost, to use wooden post and wire where possible.

Gala is lively and active, but the number of pound-type shops and empty ones suggests not much affluence. Hawick used to be noticeably depressed, but as it's a while since I've been there can't say how it compares with Gala in that respect. I'm sure that neither will have the air of Peebles, for example, always the most affluent-seeming of the Borders Council towns.

One bad thing about Gala. Weeks if not months after the new BS opened, even though the timetables have been removed fron the on-street shelters on Stirling St, there's still a large display board at the SE end of it with a map showing which services go from which stop ("to June 2015", not very conspicuously). If it's too hard to just remove it, surely a notice on it pointing the way to the new site wouldn't be too much to ask.
 

snowball

Established Member
Joined
4 Mar 2013
Messages
7,672
Location
Leeds
As others have said, the copious use of galvanised fencing is unaesthetic - I wonder how much the difference would have been, in terms of time and cost, to use wooden post and wire where possible.

I think new lines are supposed to have fencing sufficiently hard to penetrate as to be a deterrent to suicides and trespassers.

How many of these there would be in the Borders is another question.
 

PaxVobiscum

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2012
Messages
2,395
Location
Glasgow
A lengthy (32' 23") interview with Rob Shorthouse Client and Communications Director of ScotRail, from On Track who produced the Borders railway from start to Finish series, during which many of the questions which have arisen about the first couple of months of the Borders line are raised. Stuart Cameron is definitely not Jeremy Paxman, but his gentler style does elict an unreserved apology from ScotRail about the pronounciation of "Stow" on the PIS and gets an insight into ScotRail's thinking on a number of issues:
• expect only minor tweaking to the Borders T/T in the December timetable
• possible changes in the May 2016 T/T after review of data
• no kneejerk reactions to carparking/TVM/lack of toilets issues at Tweedbank
We also find out Rob had never been on a steam train until the opening day (well he's only a lad).

The overcrowding issue is discussed but nothing we didn't know already is revealed, and Rob refuses to be drawn on the infrastructure cutbacks from the original plans. Much reiteration of "we're currently collecting data so that this can be reviewed when we know the full picture" kind of thing.
A commitment to Smart ticketing, which ScotRail regards as strongly linked to Club 50 (some non-specific promises on things to come there).
Rob rejects the RailNews(?) report of no publicity for the line in the wider Borders area beyond Gala.

Apologies for the poor precis but it is a bit early in the morning for what's left of my brain.
 
Last edited:

najaB

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Aug 2011
Messages
30,691
Location
Scotland
Is there any plans for a tea/coffee snack shop at Tweedbank?
I'm sure there is nothing stopping a private individual from opening one, but I doubt there will be anything provided by the railway. Tweedbank is a local station for local people. Galashiels is for visitors. :)
 

Altnabreac

Established Member
Joined
20 Apr 2013
Messages
2,414
Location
Salt & Vinegar
Is there any plans for a tea/coffee snack shop at Tweedbank?

Scotrail will occasionally grant permission to snack vans in their car parks where a station has no other catering facilities.

Problem may be that can take up a few car parking spaces and Tweedbank is already tight for parking.
 

eastdyke

Established Member
Joined
25 Jan 2010
Messages
1,923
Location
East Midlands
I'm sure there is nothing stopping a private individual from opening one, but I doubt there will be anything provided by the railway. Tweedbank is a local station for local people. Galashiels is for visitors. :)

Galashiels may well be for 'visitors' but has local services.

Tweedbank is effectively a Park and Ride with no local services.

Bring on the burger van?
 

snakeeyes

Member
Joined
7 Jun 2011
Messages
213
I used the line last week as I was working at Tweedbank, 12.59 train reasonably busy leaving Tweedbank but a lot got on at Galashiels lots of students, good to see it being well used.
 

oldman

Member
Joined
26 Nov 2013
Messages
1,014
I went down earlier this week - about 20 going down just before 1000; coming back around 1430 I counted 31 people on the platform at Gala, though only a few boarded in Midlothian and none at Stow. From overheard conversations there were quite a few older people going for the ride (it was sunny in the Borders).

At Gala I picked up a leaflet for connecting buses - 4 on weekdays taking in Abbotsford and Melrose, 4 at weekends also including Dryburgh Abbey and Scott's View. £5 all day ticket.

Naturally Scotrail, Borders Railway, VisitScotland and First, who operate the weekend service, make no mention on their websites - it is on Traveline.
 

PaxVobiscum

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2012
Messages
2,395
Location
Glasgow
Langholm to be included in Tweedbank-Carlisle feasibility study:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34899285

Leaving aside Altnabreacs golden rule of a successful rail reopening©:D:

Population of 10,000+ within 60 minutes (75 at a push) journey time of a major employment centre.

I can't imagine how they could include Langholm as part of the route (other than a Park and Ride somewhere) without running up ridiculous costs, which makes me just a wee bit suspicious that Langholm may have been included just to make sure that the BCR is positively homeopathic so that extension to Carlisle can be seen off for good.
I do hope not.
 
Last edited:

DaveNewcastle

Established Member
Joined
21 Dec 2007
Messages
7,387
Location
Newcastle (unless I'm out)
But it's a long, long way from Hawick to Carlisle, and it would be of no negative impact on the line's capacity to provide a stop somewhere between the two. If so, then where else other than Langholm?

A station at Langholm is not likely to be any less used than some of the others on the Borders Railway, or Lockerbie (which is in a similar position but competing with many other demands on capacity on the WCML).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top