Borders Railway - Now Open

[fegguk]

This video, shot yesterday, shows how things look in Gala as it gets ever closer to seeing its first train in forty five years. The new Netherdale footbridge looks inviting.

http://youtu.be/fLVFMOef8zc

 

[muddythefish]

You're so lucky in Scotland. This sort of reopening is unlikely ever to happen in England.

 

[najaB]

Yeah, I feel for you. You only have Crossrail (£17B) and HS2 (£30B+) going on down there.

 

[muddythefish]

Reopening I said - in other words, a closure that should have happened brought back to life through government policy. We've had some minor stuff, but nothing on this scale.

 

[najaB]

I know, just being pointing out that (to date) the priority spend in England has been new lines to alleviate capacity rather than re-opening rural branch lines.

 

[deltic08]

This video, shot yesterday, shows how things look in Gala as it gets ever closer to seeing its first train in forty five years. The new Netherdale footbridge looks inviting.

http://youtu.be/fLVFMOef8zc

This is getting so exciting to see if it actually fits through Ladhope Vale and tunnel as far as ASDA.

Can you tell me please how far the railing train has reached since I saw it at Bowshank Tunnel as I would like to make another trip up before it reaches Ladhope Vale?

 

[steamybrian]

I know, just being pointing out that (to date) the priority spend in England has been new lines to alleviate capacity rather than re-opening rural branch lines.

A number of lines in England have been reopened within the last ten years or so-

Kettering-Corby-Manton Jn
Walsall- Rugeley
Nottingham-Mansfield-Worksop
East London Line Dalston Jn-Whitechapel plus Surrey Quays-Queens Road
Eastleigh-Romsey

also under construction is
Milton Keynes- Oxford/Aylesbury with new spur at Bicester
Watford High Street- Croxley (Croxley link line)
Bristol -Portishead (waiting final approval)

 

[swt_passenger]

A number of lines in England have been reopened within the last ten years or so-

Eastleigh-Romsey

Not really a re-opening in this context, only the station at Chandlers Ford was rebuilt. The line itself had only irregular timetabled passenger services but was routinely used for diversions.

 

[muddythefish]

A number of lines in England have been reopened within the last ten years or so-

Kettering-Corby-Manton Jn
Walsall- Rugeley
Nottingham-Mansfield-Worksop

Eastleigh-Romsey

Unlike the Borders, the track and infrastructure was in place on those lines.

 

[adrock1976]

A number of lines in England have been reopened within the last ten years or so-

Kettering-Corby-Manton Jn
Walsall- Rugeley
Nottingham-Mansfield-Worksop
East London Line Dalston Jn-Whitechapel plus Surrey Quays-Queens Road
Eastleigh-Romsey

also under construction is
Milton Keynes- Oxford/Aylesbury with new spur at Bicester
Watford High Street- Croxley (Croxley link line)
Bristol -Portishead (waiting final approval)

With the exception of the London Overground listed in first paragraph above being new build, all of the others already had the line in situ.

Also, I remember Walsall - Rugeley being reopened to passenger services as far as Hendesford in 1989, with the subsequent extension to Rugeley Town, then Rugeley Trent Valley and Stafford in the late 1990s. That was certainly before 2005 (10 years ago) by my reckoning. I know - as I held a Cheap Day Return from Broad Lane to Hendesford the Saturday after the Monday re-opening.

In peace

Adam

 

[Techniquest]

T'was indeed (Walsall-Rugeley/Stafford) opened again well before 2005. I had a 170/5 from Stafford to Birmingham via Rugeley in 2005 (or was it 2006, I can't quite remember), not long before they cut services back to Rugeley IIRC.

England is apparently due another (only partial sadly) re-opening in the next couple of years. Haven't heard much on it lately but we should finally see the return of trains to Rotherwas by 2017. It's only going to be a short branch off the Marches (North and West to the older of us) from Hereford, but it's a re-opening and in my neck of the woods much to my surprise! Shame we can't continue it towards Ross-on-Wye and beyond, but every small step gets us closer!

 

[muddythefish]

T'was indeed (Walsall-Rugeley/Stafford) opened again well before 2005. I had a 170/5 from Stafford to Birmingham via Rugeley in 2005 (or was it 2006, I can't quite remember), not long before they cut services back to Rugeley IIRC.

England is apparently due another (only partial sadly) re-opening in the next couple of years. Haven't heard much on it lately but we should finally see the return of trains to Rotherwas by 2017. It's only going to be a short branch off the Marches (North and West to the older of us) from Hereford, but it's a re-opening and in my neck of the woods much to my surprise! Shame we can't continue it towards Ross-on-Wye and beyond, but every small step gets us closer!

Thanks for that. News to me.

This doesn't look good though.

http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/11727657._/

 

[Techniquest]

It was to me until about 6 months ago too, to be fair and I live and work in the area!

 

[37038]

Don't forget the long mooted plan to re-introduce services to the Blyth & Tyne through to Ashington. Some money behind it now with Newcastle CC backing it

 

[edwin_m]

Parts of the Robin Hood Line were new build, and even where it was formerly a freight line a lot of it was heavily modified.

For new lines we should also include light rail, since a new heavy rail line is almost impossible to construct in an urban area unless it is 100% in tunnel, which can only really be justified with the huge numbers of passengers in central London.

 

[steamybrian]

Unlike the Borders, the track and infrastructure was in place on those lines.

Between Newstead and Kirkby a new alignment was constructed and more importantly an infilled tunnel had to be excavated.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Meanwhile back in the Borders , the latest episode of the documentary series on the Borders Railway is online now.

 

[thealexweb]

What rolling stock is in mind when they are constructing the route e.g. max running speeds. Since the timetable change the Newcraighall shuttle seems to entirely run with 158s, is this an indication of things to come?

On a side note, I saw the 09:12 leaving Newcraighall for Edinburgh earlier today. I was gobsmacked that it was running with 2 x 2 car 158s for approximately five to ten passengers http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G99767/2015/01/26/advanced. Why is there such much over capacity on the open bit of a route when a single 156 could handle even the peak time services.

 

[najaB]

What rolling stock is in mind when they are constructing the route e.g. max running speeds. Since the timetable change the Newcraighall shuttle seems to entirely run with 158s, is this an indication of things to come?

I believe that the intention is to use 158's.

 

[route:oxford]

What rolling stock is in mind when they are constructing the route e.g. max running speeds. Since the timetable change the Newcraighall shuttle seems to entirely run with 158s, is this an indication of things to come?

On a side note, I saw the 09:12 leaving Newcraighall for Edinburgh earlier today. I was gobsmacked that it was running with 2 x 2 car 158s for approximately five to ten passengers http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G99767/2015/01/26/advanced. Why is there such much over capacity on the open bit of a route when a single 156 could handle even the peak time services.

More importantly...

How many were on it when it arrived in Edinburgh on the previous diagram?

Perhaps it is better to deal with the splitting of units outside the 8am-9am peak peak...

 

[92002]

More importantly...

How many were on it when it arrived in Edinburgh on the previous diagram?

Perhaps it is better to deal with the splitting of units outside the 8am-9am peak peak...

Perhaps this is the intended capacity when Borders opens in September.

There is major housing being built along the line, with new towns due to open.
All the traffic currently on the over congested A7 road.

Could of course just relate to the previous diagram leaving Edinburgh in the morning peak.

All sounds like a piece of joined up thinking to me. Something that DfT could use a course or two in.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Meanwhile back in the Borders , the latest episode of the documentary series on the Borders Railway is online now.

Anybody else get fed up with "Head and Shoulders" screenfulls, movies of the person being interviewed? The medium we have is excellent for SHOWING us things, objects, places, how it's done, maps and diagrams - all that VISUAL stuff. After an initial visual introduction to the speaker, I don't want to see them in the frame again. Especially if he's talking about stuff which could be better shown - whilst he's talking if you like. And as for TV "Presenters" - don't get me started!!!

 

[HowardGWR]

Anybody else get fed up with "Head and Shoulders" screenfulls, movies of the person being interviewed? ........And as for TV "Presenters" - don't get me started!!!

No, not particularly, in that case. And no I won't, hopefully.

The various reports have been very helpful. I wish we had someone doing the same on the GW electrification. The north western folk are doing a great job of keeping us informed too.

 

[fegguk]

Rails have reached Gala

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57511...21-pLYLeK-qHFk1S-qrbqoW-qriAoH-qHzLMc-qHzDTc/

 

[deltic08]

Rails have reached Galal]

That is annoying. I have a day off on Wednesday and was planning to travel up tomorrow night for an early start Wednesday hoping to take photos of rail laying through Ladhope Vale and past Asda. Will have to make do with Wiston Road bridge and either side of the Red Bridge.

Have you any idea where the ballast train is at the moment please?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Video from the "Borders Railway from Start to Finish" people:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9Z0D7yqr8

Today has been a momentous one for Galashiels and the Borders Railway.
For the first time in over 40 years a train came into the Borders town, the first to appear since the Waverley Line closed to passenger trains in the late 1960s and freight trains a few years later.

The track laying team began their day on the outskirts of Galashiels, and by 2pm had reached the centre of Galashiels.

Hundreds of spectators looked on in wonder as they saw the incredible sight of the track laying machine as the team made its way towards Tweedbank, its final destination.
Enjoy the occasion in a special short video here ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9Z0D7yqr8

Could have done without the muzak myself, but never mind...

 

[thealexweb]

More importantly...

How many were on it when it arrived in Edinburgh on the previous diagram?

Perhaps it is better to deal with the splitting of units outside the 8am-9am peak peak...

Sorry for the slow reply. The outward bound service was this http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G99785/2015/01/26/advanced. I estimate 10-15 passengers disembarked.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Another trackside video, this time from Mark Neil:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ajIpoU5aQ#t=190

Without irritating music, but slightly swaying.

 

[dysonsphere]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57511216@N04/15804970244/in/photolist-q5CB1Y-qK4mPC-r2D6Mg-qK4jM1-qK5z8f-r2u2Gr-r2u1A8-qZkTj7-qHB8FS-r12QHa-qH1HFM-qFWubn-qFFExh-qXENSG-qVsm4w-qFbXiu-qFi34t-qXEP7u-qXKu8a-qXKtEg-qDt7Uo-qTJkDJ-qVWMoj-qDAAFP-pWtdCY-qR4SWU-qL71NG-pQQVRn-qriP78-qrcn3N-qHKzSv-pLKCqf-qriJbg-qrbx8C-pLKzUJ-qFsPso-qHzVci-qrc6J1-qHFaY3-qrirNr-qHzGCR-qHF7nL-qrjLYM-qX1K21-pLYLeK-qHFk1S-qrbqoW-qriAoH-qHzLMc-qHzDTc/

Intreasting pic in the Gala set showing the new footbribge, do the Scots have a differant set of rules as its new and there is no disabled acess ramps. Was just wondering. Its 3rd 0r 4th pic in series

 

[swt_passenger]

Intreasting pic in the Gala set showing the new footbribge, do the Scots have a differant set of rules as its new and there is no disabled acess ramps. Was just wondering. Its 3rd 0r 4th pic in series

There's a brand new footbridge on the Bicester curve on Evergreen 3 that doesn't have ramps. I don't believe there is a 100% requirement for access ramps in England either.