Expansions for Scotland's rail network proposed

[47271]

https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/pa...routes/formartine-and-buchan-way-route-cards/

Without trawling Google Maps I believe it to be entirely intact as per the above Aberdeenshire Council link, although I've only walked on a very few short sections of the route myself. I know of a few bridges removed after closure that now have lightweight replacements such as the crossing over Dyce Drive off the A947.

And, thankfully, as far as I can see from the plans they're building an underpass below the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and over the diverted A947 at Goval. Let's hope they're making them big and strong enough or there could be another Edinburgh City Bypass farce in the making.

 

[JohnR]

The serious question of a Brechin reopening came up last night in the current action thriller thread devoted to Dumfries-Stranraer. I've had a look at its viability and wondered what others think? I'm not convinced myself.

The route runs E-W to the site of the old Kinnaber Jn, which is now heavily overbuilt for several hundred yards westwards in the village of Hillside. This suggests a new junction towards Montrose to replace what appears to have been an underpass route beneath the main Dundee-Aberdeen line. So either a local connecting service to Montrose, or Dundee commuter. A direct link to Aberdeen looks tricky to say the least.

Brechin has a population of around 9k, so not that exciting a prospect. It's bang on the A90, so any rail journeys north or south are immediately uncompetitive because of the dog leg on to the main line. If you want to go to Aberdeen by train you can drive ten minutes on the A90 and get on at Laurenckirk, and I suspect Brechin generates quite a bit of that station's traffic.

The preservation group's track exists from Brechin to Bridge of Dun and other than at Hillside the route doesn't look that obstructed.

There appears to be no local campaign.

If a public service on a preservation route is what we want Aviemore to Grantown looks more plausible.

I think it's a no?

About 8 or 10 years ago there was a study done into extending the heritage line into Montrose, the best route being considered joining the main line facing south just north of Montrose station. There were even discussions with McCain's over freight use to their seed potato facility.

 

[Harbornite]

Would it be worth reopening the branch of the North British railway that linked Galashiels and Peebles? I understand that the trackbed isn't entirely clear and reliability on the borders line hasn't been great lately. However, this might be better than reopening the alternative NBR route to Peebles via Leadburn which is longer and is almost a duplicate of the borders line.

 

[JohnR]

Wouldnt have thought so, as it would mean travel time to Edinburgh was quite long. I believe that a study has been done of the the line via Ledburn to Penicuik, and it was not unfavourable. An extension of that to Peebles would be more likely.

 

[Carntyne]

There's more important work to be done rather than extending / altering the Tweedbank route to be honest.

 

[Harbornite]

Wouldnt have thought so, as it would mean travel time to Edinburgh was quite long. I believe that a study has been done of the the line via Ledburn to Penicuik, and it was not unfavourable. An extension of that to Peebles would be more likely.

Oh I didn't know. Either way it would be good for the Peebles, Leadburn, Linton and Penicuik area.

 

[railjock]

Oh I didn't know. Either way it would be good for the Peebles, Leadburn, Linton and Penicuik area.

The track has been built over in Bonnyrigg and Eskbank so a new route may be required or a lot of demolition. Never going to be justifiable in cost terms imo. Pomathorn isn't at all handy for Penicuik either.

 

[JohnR]

Found the reports:

http://www.penicuikcuckoo.co.uk/2016/04/full-analysis-penicuik-railway-studies/

 

[Altnabreac]

Found the reports:

http://www.penicuikcuckoo.co.uk/2016/04/full-analysis-penicuik-railway-studies/

The fact that Midlothian Council wouldn't pay for a proper GRIP report to be done and went for a version on the cheap is not a promising sign of success for the project.

The other thing which makes it less likely to succeed is the fact that Borders Rail has done much better with longer distance commuters than expected, but less well with shorter distance commuters, especially where it is competing with Lothian Buses. If this trend continues it makes a Penicuik line much less likely to progress.

 

[och aye]

The fact that Midlothian Council wouldn't pay for a proper GRIP report to be done and went for a version on the cheap is not a promising sign of success for the project.

The other thing which makes it less likely to succeed is the fact that Borders Rail has done much better with longer distance commuters than expected, but less well with shorter distance commuters, especially where it is competing with Lothian Buses. If this trend continues it makes a Penicuik line much less likely to progress.

I agree with this assessment. The council have been quite vocal about the priority of the A701 realignment and have given rail projects a luke warm reception.

To me, an extension to Hawick and/or the A701 realignment is the best major infrastructure project Midlothian & Scottish Borders councils will get from the City Deal.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
AN OFFER from East Lothian Council of almost £3.5 million could be enough to see a railway station finally return to a county village.

Councillors will consider next week whether to agree to contribute £3.44m to the cost of a station in East Linton.


http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/14688128.Extra_funding_could_finally_bring_station_online/

The article also mentions SG funding regarding Reston:

At the same time, £5.32m could go towards Reston station, in the Scottish Borders.


Can someone explain why building two platforms is so expensive? Conon Bridge cost £600,000 for half a platform.

 

[edwin_m]

Can someone explain why building two platforms is so expensive? Conon Bridge cost £600,000 for half a platform.

Multiply it by four for two whole platforms and add a bit of inflation and you're not far off £3.5m. And if you have two platforms you may need a footbridge, which in a fully accessible form is somewhere around a million. ECML stations will also cost more in operator compensation for disruption as well as altering the OLE to make room for the platform.

 

[Altnabreac]

Multiply it by four for two whole platforms and add a bit of inflation and you're not far off £3.5m. And if you have two platforms you may need a footbridge, which in a fully accessible form is somewhere around a million. ECML stations will also cost more in operator compensation for disruption as well as altering the OLE to make room for the platform.

Plus a much bigger car park as the whole point of Reston is as a park and ride for the eastern Borders. Yhe village itself has a population of bugger all.

 

[backontrack]

Plus a much bigger car park as the whole point of Reston is as a park and ride for the eastern Borders.

In particular, Eyemouth and Duns.

 

[och aye]

Yhe village itself has a population of bugger all.

Considering I can't find Yhe village in the Scottish Borders on the map, this does not surprise me.

 

[najaB]

Considering I can't find Yhe village in the Scottish Borders on the map, this does not surprise me.

It's a local village fa local people. Ye dinnea need to ken where it is.

 

[och aye]

NR have released a new computer generated fly-through of Edinburgh Gateway, to mark 100 days until the station opens:

https://vimeo.com/181181957

 

[ld0595]

NR have released a new computer generated fly-through of Edinburgh Gateway, to mark 100 days until the station opens:

https://vimeo.com/181181957

Thanks for that, was an interesting watch! Do we know yet which services will be stopping? I presume the Fife Circle and Edinburgh to Dundee stoppers but will the East Coast and Edinburgh to Aberdeen trains stop?

 

[me123]

I don't have a proposed timetable but I understand that at lease some Aberdeen services will be stopping here and not just local trains. This is to provide the North East of Scotland a direct access to the trams and, importantly, to the airport.

That said, I don't expect East Coast to stop.

 

[najaB]

That said, I don't expect East Coast to stop.

Aren't the platforms too short for East Coast?

 

[marks87]

Aren't the platforms too short for East Coast?

Each platform is 265m; a 9-coach HST is 243m (207m without the power cars).

 

[gingerheid]

Between Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park and South Gyle that's a very high density of railway station within a small area (though not wrongly so)!

 

[najaB]

Each platform is 265m; a 9-coach HST is 243m (207m without the power cars).

Okay, thanks. I've only seen them from a passing train so it's hard to judge the length.

 

[BigCj34]

Yuck, that video is raw Revit, with no rendering. Hurts my eyes.

 

[po8crg]

A full-length 800/801 (10-car) will be around 260m, so that's why they are being built to 265m

 

[route:oxford]

NR have released a new computer generated fly-through of Edinburgh Gateway, to mark 100 days until the station opens:

https://vimeo.com/181181957

The Tram approach is certainly a lot faster than real-time!

 

[Class 170101]

A full-length 800/801 (10-car) will be around 260m, so that's why they are being built to 265m

Not much margin for error.

 

[najaB]

Off the wall idea: Kirkaldy Platform 3 as a north facing bay for a Levenmouth-Kirkcaldy shuttle. The signalling already exists for the loop, it would just be reinstating the S&C at the southern end.

 

[ld0595]

Looks like RTT has the calling times for Edinburgh Gateway Station up. Link

Only the Sunday service up at the moment - looks like the Fife Circle and Dundee stoppers will call with only one Aberdeen and a few Inverness services. No sign of any VTEC calls although it looks like there could be more to add.

 

[och aye]

A couple of articles about rail reintroduction in St Andrews & Levenmouth:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business/business-comment/279700/economic-case-for-return-of-rail/

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/new...igners-say-poverty-linked-to-lack-of-railway/

A Fife community dubbed one of the most deprived in Scotland could be improved with access to rail services, campaigners have claimed.

 

[route:oxford]

Off the wall idea: Kirkaldy Platform 3 as a north facing bay for a Levenmouth-Kirkcaldy shuttle. The signalling already exists for the loop, it would just be reinstating the S&C at the southern end.

Sensible.

Do a South facing bay for Dunfermline Town and that will sort out the Alloa route too.