Borders Railway - Now Open

[Fozzie49]

Confirmation by tweet from Networkrail today S&C units due to be delivered today to Tynehead.

 

[railjock]

I can confirm this and you can see for your self 9 minutes into my latest video that features the station between Newcraighall and Stow, plus a few places o interest in between. The ballast appears to have been laid where the turnout will be located at Tyne head.

http://youtu.be/FQ4A1VcN1Ss

Great video.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Points are at Tynehead now.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=48370

Like I said earlier (post 657).
RailScot have been following the construction of the line closely, so it wasn't too wild a guess that they would have a picture PDQ.

EDIT: and http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=48371 appears to show the points being installed.

 

[Zoidberg]

For information, the 17th Network Rail update from the Borders Railway project has been published it can be found at the end of http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b851cd358a3fe0d71e1c23b8d&id=820ea63ee0&e=c535496581.

From the update ...

The construction of the railway is fast approaching its next phase as structures are completed and station works are well underway. The team is prepared for a busy August with sleepers positioned beside the railway, ballast stock piled along much of the route and signal and crossing units arriving throughout the month.

As we head towards the autumn, the focus of the work begins to shift away from heavy civil engineering towards track laying and station construction.

Great progress has been made on the station platforms at Shawfair and Eskbank, with works also starting on Newtongrange and Gorebridge stations.

In Stow, the first stages of the platform’s construction are underway and local residents should expect to see their station emerging over the next few weeks.

In Galashiels, a temporary one-way traffic system has been put in place to create a safe working environment as work is undertaken on the old retaining walls running alongside the A7. Further along Ladhope Vale, work is underway to construct the new station opposite the town’s new transport interchange.

...

 

[Ploughman]

On the BBC news website today.
A date has been set for opening 6th September 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-28867301

 

[Blindtraveler]

Will they make it I wonder?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

On the BBC news website today.
A date has been set for opening 6th September 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-28867301

Saw on RailScot news that this part of it

Mr Salmond also unveiled plans for a "steam train experience" on the line which could also start in September 2015

seems to be causing some concern in the Scotsman as it begins to dawn on the non-enthusiast public that Alex the Tourist Trail Engine will disrupt the timetable due to all that silly single track. Much passing of buck ensuing.

 

[Altnabreac]

Saw on RailScot news that this part of it
seems to be causing some concern in the Scotsman as it begins to dawn on the non-enthusiast public that Alex the Tourist Trail Engine will disrupt the timetable due to all that silly single track. Much passing of buck ensuing.

Seems a bit of a non story to me. If the steam train experience is a return train once a week on Saturday afternoons (as seems to be proposed) you're looking at a cancellation of a grand total of 2 ordinary Scotrail services at a time of relatively low non leisure demand anyway.

Yes it would be great if there were more double track, but given the BCR costs had to be kept right down to ensure the line got built at all.

 

[NotATrainspott]

There is further concern that steam trains could occupy one of the two platforms at the Tweedbank terminus for several hours while passengers tour the area, further reducing capacity on the line.

Since the second platform at Tweedbank is only there to take tourist trains and allow them to wait for hours while the normal service still runs, I don't really see what their problem is.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Seems a bit of a non story to me. If the steam train experience is a return train once a week on Saturday afternoons (as seems to be proposed) you're looking at a cancellation of a grand total of 2 ordinary Scotrail services at a time of relatively low non leisure demand anyway.

Yes it would be great if there were more double track, but given the BCR costs had to be kept right down to ensure the line got built at all.

Given that it's a time of low demand, why not simply dedicate one coach of the special for regular ticket holders between Edinburgh and Tweedbank?

Of course, that would lead to enthusiasts just buying regular tickets instead!

 

[fegguk]

Scotsman prints hysterical non story about the Borders Railway shock horror.

"Steam trains will set the heather alight and cause devastation" says one frantically concerned non local resident.

"How will I know which train to catch it there are two platforms"

"these new fangled trains will be too complicated for us to use, where do I attach my horse"

It is not enough just to tell people the first train will arrive in 380 days time and they will be every half hour or so there after rejoice and praise Alex Salmond or Jack McConnel or who ever the libdem leader was when the railway bill was passed or insert who so ever you think should be given credit perhaps the taxpayer. Yes the Tax payer congratulation you are now the proud owner of a new (ish) railway. Enjoy!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is Shawfair the only station that was not an original one on this line ?

 

[Railsigns]

Is Shawfair the only station that was not an original one on this line ?

No; there's also Tweedbank.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

...If the steam train experience is a return train once a week on Saturday afternoons (as seems to be proposed) you're looking at a cancellation of a grand total of 2 ordinary Scotrail services at a time of relatively low non leisure demand anyway.

Ah, but is it? I thought I had read it was rather more, but couldn't find the source. There's a new thread started on this BTW:

Alex Salmond has announced that there will be 3 steam services per week on re-opened Borders route...

 

[Altnabreac]

In all the announcements and news stories there doesn't appear to be anything definite about number of steam trains per week.

The key information is that Scottish Emterprise and the tourism partnership are going to commission a study to look at potential demand. This would need to take into account the inconvenience of occasional hourly services versus the potential benefit of tourist services.

Given the success of the Jacobite which has expanded the number of services and it's length of season in recent years you can see why Visit Borders think this has potential.

Edinburgh is by far the largest tourism market in Scotland so any local authority wants to link their tourism offering to the capital to try and attract those Edinburgh based visitors for a day out.

Borders certainly has decent potential for a steam train attraction. At around 60 minutes each way it's the correct length of journey, just enough for the non enthusiast without getting too expensive to operate.

The journey is scenic with rolling hills and green fields. It's no West Highland Line but very comparable to York - Scarborough which I suspect will be the basis of the Borders Steam business case.

Finally there are some decent attractions for visitors once you arrive. Abbotsford, Melrose Abbey and possibly the Tapestry eventually. Better than Mallaig from that point of view.

Will be interesting if the case stacks up for a run round loop and turntable but even if not I suspect it's still a very viable attraction to help bring more visitors to the borders.

 

[oldman]

Some gaps in the service to Gala might be OK to accommodate a train, but to interrupt the half-hourly suburban service in Midlothian, which is likely to be the major use of the service would surely be unacceptable.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

In all the announcements and news stories there doesn't appear to be anything definite about number of steam trains per week.

Thanks for settling that. It would be more of an issue if there were several excursions in a given week, but you have pointed out above, a couple of cancellations on a Saturday is not a big deal.

Will be interesting if the case stacks up for a run round loop and turntable but even if not I suspect it's still a very viable attraction to help bring more visitors to the borders.

Are there any instances of turntables being reinstated on the national rail network? That would be quite a turnaround (sorry), but you know what I mean (even if Tweedbank itself didn't have one before AFAIK).

 

[reb0118]

Some gaps in the service to Gala might be OK to accommodate a train, but to interrupt the half-hourly suburban service in Midlothian, which is likely to be the major use of the service would surely be unacceptable.

Just of the top of my head - but I believe there is provision to turn trains at Gorebridge. Would it therefore be possible to run a "part-route" service to/from Gorebridge when the Steam Special is occupying a regular path?

 

[kylemore]

Scotsman prints hysterical non story about the Borders Railway shock horror.

"Steam trains will set the heather alight and cause devastation" says one frantically concerned non local resident.

"How will I know which train to catch it there are two platforms"

"these new fangled trains will be too complicated for us to use, where do I attach my horse"

It is not enough just to tell people the first train will arrive in 380 days time and they will be every half hour or so there after rejoice and praise Alex Salmond or Jack McConnel or who ever the libdem leader was when the railway bill was passed or insert who so ever you think should be given credit perhaps the taxpayer. Yes the Tax payer congratulation you are now the proud owner of a new (ish) railway. Enjoy!

Yes it's always the NEGATIVE with these people - which is why I gave up on the fast declining Scotsman and Herald long ago - hopefully they'll both go bust soon and be replaced with locally based and owned alternatives, employing real journalists rather than un-informed corporate hacks.

As for the "Problems", whats the betting they'll be sorted out without any significant disruption to the service?

 

[NotATrainspott]

Some gaps in the service to Gala might be OK to accommodate a train, but to interrupt the half-hourly suburban service in Midlothian, which is likely to be the major use of the service would surely be unacceptable.

If it becomes a real problem then the route to Gorebridge was built with passive provision for 4tph, so the issue could be made to go away entirely.

 

[HSTEd]

I would hope that the business case for this tourist thing bears the full cost of any additional infrastructure required to accommodate it though.

 

[IanXC]

Are there any instances of turntables being reinstated on the national rail network? That would be quite a turnaround (sorry), but you know what I mean (even if Tweedbank itself didn't have one before AFAIK).

I'm not certain, but Stratford upon Avon and Scarborough come to mind.

 

[Fozzie49]

Just of the top of my head - but I believe there is provision to turn trains at Gorebridge. Would it therefore be possible to run a "part-route" service to/from Gorebridge when the Steam Special is occupying a regular path?

Yes provision for this apparently designed in. Plans show a turn back signal EMB277 to the south of Gorebridge platform to allow this move it appears.

 

[fgwrich]

I'm not certain, but Stratford upon Avon and Scarborough come to mind.

There has been talk of WCRC installing a turntable at Weymouth for quite some time now as well - currently the loco's have either been turned around at Yeovil or Diesel hauled (Dorset Coast Express) from Weymouth to Southampton and then steam hauled again from Southampton Central to Waterloo/Victoria via Romsey & the Laverstoke loop to get them facing in the right direction again.

 

[IanXC]

Just a quick note that we have a separate thread for the specifics of the proposed steam operations Steam operations on Borders Rail

 

[scotsman]

Yes it's always the NEGATIVE with these people - which is why I gave up on the fast declining Scotsman and Herald long ago - hopefully they'll both go bust soon and be replaced with locally based and owned alternatives, employing real journalists rather than un-informed corporate hacks.

As for the "Problems", whats the betting they'll be sorted out without any significant disruption to the service?

You don't think much of journalists in Scotland, do you? Even though the many either hold a specialist degree in journalism, giving them practical experience every step of the way. Or even just starting off as a reporter at a 'local' (by name, but not ownership) newspapers before working their way up?

Would you like the people at NewsNet Scotland to take their jobs?

 

[deltic08]

Yes provision for this apparently designed in. Plans show a turn back signal EMB277 to the south of Gorebridge platform to allow this move it appears.

There may be a signal but without a run-round loop, and there isn't one as Gorebridge is single track, a steam service cannot return from here to Edinburgh.

 

[swt_passenger]

There may be a signal but without a run-round loop, and there isn't one as Gorebridge is single track, a steam service cannot return from here to Edinburgh.

I thought the actual point being made by reb0118 was that the normal service (DMU) would turn back there, leaving the steam special to run all the way through?

 

[Railsigns]

There may be a signal but without a run-round loop, and there isn't one as Gorebridge is single track, a steam service cannot return from here to Edinburgh.

Then how do they propose getting the steam trains back from Tweedbank, given that there won't be a loop there either?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm not certain, but Stratford upon Avon and Scarborough come to mind.

New turntables were provided also at Fort William and (just last year) York.

 

[reb0118]

There may be a signal but without a run-round loop, and there isn't one as Gorebridge is single track, a steam service cannot return from here to Edinburgh.

I thought the actual point being made by reb0118 was that the normal service (DMU) would turn back there, leaving the steam special to run all the way through?

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?