Borders Railway - Now Open

[deltic08]

The limit is 5 mph until they hand over to network rail in May. I imagine such slow speed means other control measures are less critical.

10mph when it has been tamped

 

[L&Y Robert]

10mph when it has been tamped

So it takes 3 hours for the rail carrier or ballast train to get down to Gala does it? - and 3 hours back, of course.

 

[deltic08]

So it takes 3 hours for the rail carrier or ballast train to get down to Gala does it? - and 3 hours back, of course.

Yep, it certainly did towards the bottom end of the line requiring two shifts of drivers.

The train left Millerhill about 6am to start rail laying at 9-30ish returning about 4pm arriving Millerhill about 7pm.

One driver would drive the train down with the second driver roaded down to swap over about midday and the first driver roaded back. The second driver then drove the train back to Millerhill after completion of tracklaying that day.

 

[Leki]

I have been involved in transport in the borders for over 20 years

to say that bus and taxi operators will go where the passengers are is in a way correct--which means galashiels
those passengers heading to tweedbank who don't have their car waiting for them will have a bigger problem

saying that because some bus services are council tendered and will be altered to fit is a rather simplistic view and one which the bus companies I am sure will have something to say about that

there has been major changes in bus travel in the borders in recent years and some major changes to come and unless the council have deep pockets to subsidise altered routes the bus companies will not alter timetables for the sake of a few passengers

with regard to the taxi operators --- any increase in dead mileage will seriously reduce their profits and it should also be noted that MR TAX MAN does not understand the concept of dead mileage

the main reason I posted as I did was to refute the rather uninformed claims by an earlier poster who may or may not live in the borders but seems to have little knowledge of the "real borders"

I'm local enough to be familar with the Borders obsession with 'ootsiders' But no, you're right - I now live at the other end of the line but I grew up in the Borders. Is that good enough to have an opinion on the route?

In fairness, you haven't really refuted anything other than to imply you know something "insider" about Borders bus services. Doesn't most taxi journeys have dead mileage on the way back? What's to stop drivers heading back to Gala from stopping off at Tweedbank when they know a train's coming in.

I was told by someone in Gala, who should know, that planning approval for Asda was only given if they paid for a new Station Brae, I would like to know who authorised a bridge only three meters short of a full double track width?

Asda did contribute to the relief road scheme, but the replacement of Station Brae was nothing to do with Asda moving in. The road project was designed wiht the railway in mind - the majority of new structures on the route are only wide enough for single track. It would surely have been disproportionate for the Council's Relief Road scheme to bear the cost of double-track future proofing in the middle of Gala when the main project didn't provide for that even out in green fields.

I should say that neither of you I was disagreeing with specificially - I only picked up on your points in relation to the post discrediting the project and the choice of route.

 

[deltic08]

Asda did contribute to the relief road scheme, but the replacement of Station Brae was nothing to do with Asda moving in. The road project was designed wiht the railway in mind - the majority of new structures on the route are only wide enough for single track. It would surely have been disproportionate for the Council's Relief Road scheme to bear the cost of double-track future proofing in the middle of Gala when the main project didn't provide for that even out in green fields.

I should say that neither of you I was disagreeing with specificially - I only picked up on your points in relation to the post discrediting the project and the choice of route.

Nowhere have I discredited the scheme. I was just questioning why Asda was allowed to build where it did and not slightly further west or even rotated 90 degrees on the site and why Station Brae bridge was built only three metres short of double track width.

 

[cjt0131]

I'm local enough to be familar with the Borders obsession with 'ootsiders' But no, you're right - I now live at the other end of the line but I grew up in the Borders. Is that good enough to have an opinion on the route?

In fairness, you haven't really refuted anything other than to imply you know something "insider" about Borders bus services. Doesn't most taxi journeys have dead mileage on the way back? What's to stop drivers heading back to Gala from stopping off at Tweedbank when they know a train's coming in.



Asda did contribute to the relief road scheme, but the replacement of Station Brae was nothing to do with Asda moving in. The road project was designed wiht the railway in mind - the majority of new structures on the route are only wide enough for single track. It would surely have been disproportionate for the Council's Relief Road scheme to bear the cost of double-track future proofing in the middle of Gala when the main project didn't provide for that even out in green fields.

I should say that neither of you I was disagreeing with specificially - I only picked up on your points in relation to the post discrediting the project and the choice of route.

like deltic08 I would also like to state that nowhere have I tried to discredit the route and I strongly object the suggestion I did

I did raise concerns about onward transport from tweedbank and in general the need for an integrated travel plan around the new line
this is something that many local councillors and politicians have raised but considering the railway begins operation in September little has been done

although you didn't directly say it but heavily implied that I or other borderers have an obsession with "ootsiders" is quite frankly insulting

I have lived and worked in many parts of the UK and my knowledge of transport in the border(and other parts of the uk) is as a user and an operator of such services, so a little more than insider knowledge of border bus services

I did not suggest that you are not good enough to have an opinion regarding the borders railway because if we are all honest here the main reason for the railway is not so much for the benefit of the borderers but for the many in Midlothian where the railways will stop(more than in the borders)

there are a few things regarding the route and transport provision in the borders where I would have done it differently and if it falls within the responsibility of Scottish borders council then I have little faith in them getting it right but I hardly see the point wasting my time expressing my views here

 

[Leki]

I didn't say that either of you did discredit the route.

I should say that neither of you I was disagreeing with specifically - I only picked up on your points in relation to the post discrediting the project and the choice of route.

The post I was referring to was the post above both of yours saying there was more deserving places in need of a railway.

In the context of discussing Tweedbank as a poor choice of terminus, I picked up the points you made. However, I don't disagree completely with what you both said.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Shall we now bring this "did I" or "didn't I" posting jousting to an end now that everyone had had their say and concentrate instead upon the actual matter of the Borders Railway.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Shall we now bring this "did I" or "didn't I" posting jousting to an end now that everyone had had their say and concentrate instead upon the actual matter of the Borders Railway.

Hear hear!
So - Borders Railway - Any news?

 

[Kryo]

Does anyone know the new starts for the Tweedbank conductors role? I start with them on Monday 9th March and would be interested in a car share with them.

 

[fegguk]

As noted else where

Subject: Improved rail connections between Edinburgh and Newcraighall
Immediate release: 26 February 2015
Improved rail connections between Edinburgh and Newcraighall
ScotRails summer 2015 timetable will see a new Sunday service between Edinburgh Waverley and Newcraighall for the first time - from Sunday 17th May.
The enhanced timetable will deliver an hourly service departing Edinburgh
Waverley at 09:11, then at 11 minutes past each hour until 23:11.
In the opposite direction, trains will depart Newcraighall at 30 minutes
past the hour. The first service will leave at 09:30 and the last at 23:30

 

[Railsigns]

The Borders Railway now depicted on the VDU at Edinburgh Signalling Centre:

https://twitter.com/BordersRailway/status/569780331802431488

 

[Fozzie49]

The Borders Railway now depicted on the VDU at Edinburgh Signalling Centre:

https://twitter.com/BordersRailway/status/569780331802431488

Running on simulator at present hence some signals showing lit and TC's clear.

 

[fegguk]

it had been reported else where that from Friday 6th March 170414 will be travelling around in a special Borders Railway livery

 

[fegguk]

It a wrap, special Borders railway liveries 170

http://www.donaldstirling.me.uk/ScottishRailways/Borders-Railway-livery/

 

[najaB]

Interesting that they wrapped a 170!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Now also featured on BBC news:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-31923068

A massive "artwork on wheels" has been unveiled to promote the new Borders Railway throughout the country.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown revealed the 70m long train wrapped in specially-designed livery.

It aims to promote some of the top attractions of the areas served by the new railway, due to open in September.

Mr Brown said the Scottish government wanted to "maximise the benefits" of the railway by attracting people from across the country to use the line.

Among the illustrations to feature on the train are Edinburgh Zoo's pandas, Rosslyn Chapel and the scenery of the Scottish Borders.

 

[AngusH]

The Borders Railway now depicted on the VDU at Edinburgh Signalling Centre:

https://twitter.com/BordersRailway/status/569780331802431488

Most interesting to see! Thanks for the link.

If I could ask though, what do the letters in light blue mean?
KNGT, FBTH,GBBL,TDBK?

 

[najaB]

Most interesting to see! Thanks for the link.

If I could ask though, what do the letters in light blue mean?
KNGT, FBTH,GBBL,TDBK?

I'll probably be corrected, but they seem to mark the boundaries between sections.

 

[Railsigns]

If I could ask though, what do the letters in light blue mean?
KNGT, FBTH,GBBL,TDBK?

Those are the limits of Signal Group Replacement Control areas.

The names refer to the following areas:

KNGT: King's Gate
FBTH: Fushiebridge/Tynehead
GBBL: Galabank/Bowland
TDBK: Tweedbank

 

[deltic08]

Interesting that they wrapped a 170!

I prefer it to the dotted Saltire. Can we have more like this?

Isn't 170414 one that is moving South soon?

 

[fegguk]

Tweedbank. A look in detail of how the station is progressing.

https://youtu.be/FwkH8I5dNKs

 

[sammorris]

I did raise concerns about onward transport from tweedbank and in general the need for an integrated travel plan around the new line. this is something that many local councillors and politicians have raised but considering the railway begins operation in September little has been done

Unfortunately this seems to be a problem up and down the UK.

I've been told that due to bus deregulation there is very little that can be done affordably, unless it's entirely voluntary on the part of the bus companies concerned. I'm sure someone on here would be able to explain the obstacles better than me, of course...

 

[najaB]

I've been told that due to bus deregulation there is very little that can be done affordably, unless it's entirely voluntary on the part of the bus companies concerned. I'm sure someone on here would be able to explain the obstacles better than me, of course...

Based on this post, I doubt much will happen to improve bus connections from Tweedbank.

 

[fegguk]

The Borders railway will see steam haulage 3 days a week for the first 6 weeks. Check out page 5 of the speech below.

No doubt some will complain about the use of 60 year old rolling stock

http://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/150401_jeff_speech_eng.pdf

 

[HowardGWR]

Tweedbank. A look in detail of how the station is progressing.

https://youtu.be/FwkH8I5dNKs

Thanks very much. Gosh, that fencing is execrable One can imagine them erecting such fences, shortly, in Sydney Gardens, Bath (not)!

The single line bridges also make one want to weep. Apart from those apertures, are the curve radii capable of accommodating double track eventually? I can understand that some cutting walls will be needed in that event.

 

[fgwrich]

The Borders railway will see steam haulage 3 days a week for the first 6 weeks. Check out page 5 of the speech below.

No doubt some will complain about the use of 60 year old rolling stock

http://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/150401_jeff_speech_eng.pdf

Thanks for this. I do find a small level of Irony in this though, given how quick the RMT was to jump on ScotRails back via the local newspaper a few weeks ago - ScotRail to use trains which flush onto the tracks on the new Borders Railway... or something on that lines!

 

[jimm]

Article about the project on the Guardian website

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/04/borders-rail-revolution-edinburgh-scotland

 

[cjt0131]

Thanks for this. I do find a small level of Irony in this though, given how quick the RMT was to jump on ScotRails back via the local newspaper a few weeks ago - ScotRail to use trains which flush onto the tracks on the new Borders Railway... or something on that lines!

I sincerely hope the trains used on the borders railway will not be flushing waste onto the track---which also means the streets and gardens of those who live right by it

 

[me123]

I sincerely hope the trains used on the borders railway will not be flushing waste onto the track---which also means the streets and gardens of those who live right by it

I doubt it. They'll be 158s, and possibly some 170s, both of which are fitted with retention tanks. Class 156s do not have retention tanks, but I'm not aware of any plans to use them on the line.

Not sure about the steam specials, mind. I doubt they'll have tanks.

But even if they don't, I wouldn't get too concerned by the possible lack of tanks on a handful of trains. You won't have rivers of turds floating down your street or anything!