Paul, while we await expert advice, I must say Galashiels looks very tight on space and the approaches too. However, I was comparing the width of existing viaducts, like that big one, that are of course already double width, with the line space further on, and it looked quite roomy to me.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both 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
- Thread starter PaxVobiscum
- Start date
- Status
Paul, while we await expert advice, I must say Galashiels looks very tight on space and the approaches too. However, I was comparing the width of existing viaducts, like that big one, that are of course already double width, with the line space further on, and it looked quite roomy to me.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Newtongrange, eskbank and Galashiels are on sites close to the old ones. Stow and Gorebridge are on the same site.
PaxVobiscum
Established Member
Don't worry about it. I sympathize with you.
Galashiels is for me another disappointment along the route - The original station site which was quite expansive is where the road bridge and roundabout to the south of where the new one is. Indeed there could have been the potential to build a much larger station with car parking facilities et all nearby but the land was sold to build a large Asda store - leaving enough space for a single track up from Tweedbank, Under a large concrete road bridge - Also built for Single Track, up to a station which will be constructed alongside the retaining wall opposite the Bus Station - which get's rebuilt as part of the Borders Railway, before heading northwards through the now singled tunnel under the road (Singled to allow for further carriageway improvements) before leaving Gala on a new concrete single track viaduct aligned central to the piers over Gala Water.
No worries, thanks!
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Grateful thanks for your information.
Tracks have reached Eskbank station
Here is the latest video form Jw26040 slightly further north south of the Citybypass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehe_Y-9ogno
Here is the latest video form Jw26040 slightly further north south of the Citybypass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehe_Y-9ogno
dcsprior
Member
The building of the line is happening from the Edinburgh/Newcraighall end; and I believe everyone expects that end of the line to see most use. Would it not have been a good idea to open in two phases - e.g. Edinburgh to Gorebridge pre-Christmas, and the rest as per the current schedule?
This is exactly what happens when a route is closed and you come along and open up again 40 years later.
Hence the line will serve Galashields but the terminus is Tweedbank.
Tweedbank is the centre for operations and interchange. Not clogging up the Galashields already busy town centre.There is also more passengers available from Tweedbank than Galashields.
Last edited by a moderator:
Altnabreac
Established Member
The act of the Scottish Parliament authorising the railway - Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 - specifically forbids constructing only part of the railway.
Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 said:
It might or might not be legally possible for a partial opening to be temporarily agreed on the basis that the rest was still under construction but I doubt anyone wants to get into detailed legal arguments over it. Much better to open all in one go without any legal challenges.
Given the need for work to stations, testing etc there is no way the Midlothian section would be ready to open this year anyway, at best it might have been possible to open a few months ahead of the Tweedbank section.
Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place. Scotrail have announced that the timetable for Brunstane and Newcraighall will change from December in preparation for the extension of the services towards Tweedbank.
Timetable changes
Timetable changes
PaulLothian
Member
A Waverley to Newcraighall shuttle - high on the list of boring turns for drivers?
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 34,241
Good to see a more detailed view of the process, luckily I'd just about worked out what was going on back in post #771 on the previous page.
I reckon those portable rollers that they put on the sleepers to hold the rail as it is pulled along might need larger flanges, It looks like in the middle of the video the RH rail has come off the rollers, and a bit later as the rail is eventually dropped off the green machine it is misaligned and falls inside the chairs/clips.
There seems to be a lot more manual work going on than when the Balfour Beatty NTC machine is operating, and as suggested earlier the clipping process isn't automated, they are using the same clipping machines you see at a normal track relay where Pandrol fastclips are preinstalled on the sleepers.
I'm no lawyer but I'd say the quoted wording obviously permits partial opening if, as is the case, the rest is clearly and actively being built and is well on the way to completion.
It doesn't necessarily follow that partial opening is a good idea.
Given the need to test signalling and so on, I would have thought opening anything by Christmas was unlikely.
It doesn't necessarily follow that partial opening is a good idea.
Given the need to test signalling and so on, I would have thought opening anything by Christmas was unlikely.
Ploughman
Established Member
If there was a partial reopening then the problem arises of conflicting movements.
Service trains blocking access / egress to Track construction trains.
Also as stated earlier the problems that would cause to S+T Testing etc
There hasn't been a service train down here for 40 years, surely you can wait a few months more for the full line.
Service trains blocking access / egress to Track construction trains.
Also as stated earlier the problems that would cause to S+T Testing etc
There hasn't been a service train down here for 40 years, surely you can wait a few months more for the full line.
Tweedbank will serve the motorist changing to the train as a park and ride facility.
Galashiels is where most of the local buses will integrate with the railway as they do currently with each other. That is why they are building a fancy interchange building there not at Tweedbank, which is served by only very local bus routes.
Also just because we have seen a train rolling down the tracks at 5 mph doesn't mean that there is not a lot of work to do to get the thing operational. Driver training alone is going to take about 2 month. Never mind there is less than a year to wait. Tracking laying is expected to be finished by Christmas, Santa will have to get the bus.
Last edited by a moderator:
First rail laying train onto Lothianbridge viaduct Wed 15/10/14
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/16265/
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/photo/scaled/16265/
Ploughman
Established Member
The next train variation to watch for will be the Ballast trains.
After that then it will be the On Track Plant with Tampers and Regulators doing their thing.
How far from the current limit of sleepers is the current head of steel?
After that then it will be the On Track Plant with Tampers and Regulators doing their thing.
How far from the current limit of sleepers is the current head of steel?
Steel laid as far as nearly to south of Lothianbridge Viaduct. Sleepers laid at this section to nearly Newtongrange station but ballast prep today through station observed. Of course there are many other places sleepers are laid throughout with gaps in places as earth works etc are finished off.
Ploughman
Established Member
What I was wondering is whether there is more than a Train load of rail in length to drop off before you get to the end of the sleepers.
That could indicate when the Ballast trains start running.
That could indicate when the Ballast trains start running.
L&Y Robert
Member
A bit later on in the video the rail train is solemnly pushing back over the rail just placed, yet the rail fixing clip crew are FOLLOWING it up, evidently clipping the rails. This suggests that the rail train has just traversed un-clipped track! Is this right?
Autoballasters have been running. Millerhill to Kingsgate ballasted. Tamper coming in from Slateford on Friday also.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
No they clip up roughly every third clip prior to train running over it. A follow up team behind train completes the clipping. All to save time.
I couldn't understand that either.
PaxVobiscum
Established Member
I'm surprised they have room to work with all the enthusiasts from railscot, scot-rail and other websites busy photographing/filming/logging anything that moves (or fails to move) - even in the dark in some cases 
in addition to the 'official' coverage from Network Rail and the Borders Railway film unit (which produces the 'On Track' series) plus occasional visits from BBC and STV.
I feel no need to go and see for myself when everybody else is working so hard.
in addition to the 'official' coverage from Network Rail and the Borders Railway film unit (which produces the 'On Track' series) plus occasional visits from BBC and STV.I feel no need to go and see for myself when everybody else is working so hard.
I'm surprised they have room to work with all the enthusiasts from railscot, scot-rail and other websites busy photographing/filming/logging anything that moves (or fails to move) - even in the dark in some cases
I feel no need to go and see for myself when everybody else is working so hard.
Social media certainly makes following progress very easy. I had a drive down to Eskbank today and it feels strange seeing track there again after all those years. The new station site seems to have moved a bit further from the housing than originally planned. It looks like the new path from the station through K&I to Tesco is still in plan.
L&Y Robert
Member
Under this videao: http://youtu.be/Fuh4zUn-VTY
we have "Footage of a Hi-ab lorry lifting the tracklaying machine I have nicknamed the 'Boojum' from one track to another".
So it's a made-up word! Any logic to it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://youtu.be/ehe_Y-9ogno
And in this video, the opening few seconds show the competition, arriving in bulk, crossing the bridge ahead. Anyone else notice this? Oh, the irony!
we have "Footage of a Hi-ab lorry lifting the tracklaying machine I have nicknamed the 'Boojum' from one track to another".
So it's a made-up word! Any logic to it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://youtu.be/ehe_Y-9ogno
And in this video, the opening few seconds show the competition, arriving in bulk, crossing the bridge ahead. Anyone else notice this? Oh, the irony!
Made up by Lewis Carroll.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
As those familiar with "The Hunting of the Snark" will so attest. Incidentally, there is a railway connection in that poem as it mentions in one line..."They threatened its life with a railway share"
- Status