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
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.
...
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
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.Mr Salmond also unveiled plans for a "steam train experience" on the line which could also start in September 2015
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.
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.
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.
Is Shawfair the only station that was not an original one on this line ?
...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.
Alex Salmond has announced that there will be 3 steam services per week on re-opened Borders route...
In all the announcements and news stories there doesn't appear to be anything definite about number of steam trains per week.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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).
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?
I'm not certain, but Stratford upon Avon and Scarborough come to mind.
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?
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.
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'm not certain, but Stratford upon Avon and Scarborough come to mind.
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?