Borders Railway Electrification

[scotraildmu]

I've heard lots of talk about plans to electrify the borders railway and I was wondering what people thought of this.

A lot of the initiative to use the borders railway is the scenery, and an overhead wire electrification system could be a major obstruction to the views from both the interior and exterior of the train.
On the other hand, a big part of the reason the borders railway was built was to reduce carbon emissions over cars and buses and electric trains would certainly do this better than diesel ones.

 

[Western Gaffer]

There are less attractive routes but it's not really particularly scenic, and personally I wouldn't describe OHLE as a major obstruction to views, so if there's a business case for doing this, it would surprise me if such considerations were a significant factor.

And the first five miles of the route are already electrified anyway....

 

[Starmill]

Overhead wires really don't make any noticeable difference to the scenery from inside the train. It's also worth noting that the railway is a piece of transport infrastructure, and that scenery doesn't generally have any monetised values in transport appraisal.

Electrification in the near future is unlikely. Transport Scotland have prioritised the Barrhead and East Kilbride scheme which is underway now. This is more likely to be followed by Barrhead to Kilmarnock and Ayr or the Maryhill line than the Borders Railway. The Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan only envisages electrification by 2035.

Further details about phasing may be published with STPR2's phase two report, or the updated Climate Change Plan.

 

[scotraildmu]

There are less attractive routes but it's not really particularly scenic, and personally I wouldn't describe OHLE as a major obstruction to views, so if there's a business case for doing this, it would surprise me if such considerations were a significant factor.

And the first five miles of the route are already electrified anyway....

They are not as nice compared to say the West Highland Line but ScotRail does advertise it to be a scenic route, OHLE would be more of a problem for locals not so much people on the train.

 

[Starmill]

They are not as nice compared to say the West Highland Line but ScotRail does advertise it to be a scenic route, OHLE would be more of a problem for locals not so much people on the train.

ScotRail can call it a scenic route so that tourists buy their tickets. That in itself doesn't mean its particularly scenic.

Long-term most rural railways will need either be electrified or closed. Batteries are a possibility if they're partially electrified and not too far.

 

[MacCookie]

Further details about phasing may be published with STPR2's phase two report, or the updated Climate Change Plan.

STPR2 Phase 1 has already stated that Borders decarbonisation is part of the first phase of the Decarbonisation Action Plan.

 

[Western Gaffer]

They are not as nice compared to say the West Highland Line but ScotRail does advertise it to be a scenic route, OHLE would be more of a problem for locals not so much people on the train.

ScotRail's marketing needs to be taken with a pretty substantial chunk of salt - not only do they include Stranraer and GS&W lines on their list of scenic routes but their flowery description of the delights of the Borders line is embarrassing!

Highlights​

Look out for​

• Edinburgh’s Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat, towering over the east side of the capital
• The incredible sunsets on the long stretch from Gorebridge to Stow [WTF?]

As passive provision for electrification was included in the scope of the Borders line reopening, it just seems a matter of when, rather than if, it goes ahead, although as above, batteries can form an interim solution.

 

[Starmill]

STPR2 Phase 1 has already stated that Borders decarbonisation is part of the first phase of the Decarbonisation Action Plan.

It was based on the strategic objective of best enabling class 156 withdrawal, and hadn't actually been appraised at that point. Although yes perhaps it would be better value for money to electrify Tweedbank to Leven via Dunfermline Town and via Kirkcaldy than Kilmarnock.

 

[td97]

Construction commencing before the end of 2021. The section from Tweedbank to Bowshank Tunnel wired initially.

As previously discussed construction is expected to begin soon

 

[waverley47]

As previously discussed construction is expected to begin soon

I've heard lots of talk about plans to electrify the borders railway and I was wondering what people thought of this.

A lot of the initiative to use the borders railway is the scenery, and an overhead wire electrification system could be a major obstruction to the views from both the interior and exterior of the train.
On the other hand, a big part of the reason the borders railway was built was to reduce carbon emissions over cars and buses and electric trains would certainly do this better than diesel ones.

Electrification on the Borders line is indeed underway. The team that was working on sight lines, procurement and contract writing for the East Kilbride lines have moved across to the Borders, Aberdeen and Fife lines, so the staff are already working on this.

We won't see a contract let for a while, let alone boots on the ground, as these projects take time. There are indeed other projects higher up the priority list, however the Borders line is currently number three or four in the queue depending on who you speak to as NR, so it won't be too long.

Indeed, the plans for a substation and grid transformer at Tweedbank are already progressing, so the lead time is looking to be about six/seven years for full completion at the current pace.

The Scottish government isn't really beholden to the same whims as Tory MPs from the Thames Valley found themselves under during the GWR project. Additionally, as has been said, it's transport infrastructure, and wiring is important, so don't expect panoramic vistas to stop any wiring.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I've been on many railways much more scenic than the Borders - in the Alps for example or, closer to home, over Shap. Can't say the knitting spoilt the view at all

 

[adamedwards]

Bonomi Omnia cantilever system in Nov Modern Railways pp44 is simple and slim so would be ideal for this route.

 

[Bald Rick]

although as above, batteries can form an interim solution.

Not sure why battery trains would be an interim solution. If they work, they are the solution.

 

[JKF]

I guess you could always decide which side of the line to stick the masts so that the best views are unobstructed.

Not that I’ve ever noticed them being an impediment to views when I’ve been on rail journeys, they’re merely a flicker.

 

[snowball]

Not sure why battery trains would be an interim solution. If they work, they are the solution.

According to videos previously posted, it's a general strategy in Scotland to progress to full electrification of all but the remotest lines*, using partial electrification and battery trains as an interim measure wherever it would help to achieve early removal of diesel trains.

*The exact definition of "remotest lines" may change, but when I last heard it was considered to mean Tain to Wick and Thurso, the Kyle line, the West Highland lines and Girvan to Stranraer, but not the Borders line.

The remotest lines would use hydrogen or batteries as a permanent solution.

See the start of this thread:

Scotrail future plans for network enhancements

This video has some information about ScotRail's future plans for the network in Scotland

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[SouthEastBuses]

If the right type of electrification system is chosen (for example Mk3 headspans), then there would be practically no obstruction to the views at all! Although, outside of stations, headspans would be no use because the Borders Railway is double tracked.

This line, alongside others in the UK, needs to be electrified asap.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2021 ==

Bonomi Omnia cantilever system in Nov Modern Railways pp44 is simple and slim so would be ideal for this route.

Or you can go for Siemens SICAT, where you save money because you can build masts at a longer distance (every 100m)

 

[waverley47]

If the right type of electrification system is chosen (for example Mk3 headspans), then there would be practically no obstruction to the views at all! Although, outside of stations, headspans would be no use because the Borders Railway is double tracked.

This line, alongside others in the UK, needs to be electrified asap.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2021 ==



Or you can go for Siemens SICAT, where you save money because you can build masts at a longer distance (every 100m)

I don't think this is really going to feed into considerations. The team at NR involved in procurement and standards are assuming the same masts as have been used for the rest of the Scottish wirings since EGIP (MK3 from memory) and which the government has a contract for supply of until at least 2030.

Views don't really come into it.

 

[Western Gaffer]

Although, outside of stations, headspans would be no use because the Borders Railway is double tracked.

Wrong tense, unfortunately....

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Overhead wires really don't make any noticeable difference to the scenery from inside the train. It's also worth noting that the railway is a piece of transport infrastructure, and that scenery doesn't generally have any monetised values in transport appraisal.

And the route is not exactly high speed so no humungous GWEP sized - survive an atom bomb- p--- off the Goring Gap people style of gantries. It could be done much more aesthetically pleasing.

Bonomi Omnia cantilever system in Nov Modern Railways pp44 is simple and slim so would be ideal for this route.

exactly

 

[Hagbard Celine]

I've heard lots of talk about plans to electrify the borders railway and I was wondering what people thought of this.

A lot of the initiative to use the borders railway is the scenery, and an overhead wire electrification system could be a major obstruction to the views from both the interior and exterior of the train.

The passengers who use the line regularly don't care about the views.
We just want trains with enough seats that can do more than 40mph up Borthwick Bank.