Center Parcs. Hawick

[sbf kent]

I see in today's Metro, free paper, that Center Parcs are planning to spend £400 million on a new parc in Hawick. Surely that is a good incentive to build a rail connection? Up to 3,500 guests at one time.

 

[frankmoh]

I see in today's Metro, free paper, that Center Parcs are planning to spend £400 million on a new parc in Hawick. Surely that is a good incentive to build a rail connection? Up to 3,500 guests at one time.

Are there any rail lines near to Hawick? (maybe it can be a further out range depending on where they build the parc)

 

[A S Leib]

Tweedbank's around ten miles away.

 

[Zomboid]

Nope. Almost nobody gets the train to center parcs, and the only related traffic would be on a Monday or Friday.

Staff travel there daily of course, but even they won't be that numerous as to change the maths on a railway that probably won't be within walking distance of the park.

 

[Harpo]

If you can afford Centre Parcs you’re probably a car owner. If you can afford to go without taking food and plan to eat on site, it’ll be a very good car.

 

[dk1]

We’ve got one close to Thetford and have never heard of many people using the train to visit. It’s really not worth the effort and as something like this could close down at any time the only way a railway or station would even be considered is if they stump up the cost or at least a very large part of it.

 

[Class15]

How much would a railway from Tweedbank to Hawick cost?

 

[A S Leib]

If there were enough demand for rail transport to Centre Parcs, I'd expect Woburn Sands to be a considerably easier one to serve (around two miles from Millbrook), or plan to serve if the Marston Vale Line's going to be changed a lot anyway. I don't know exactly if serving both that and the Universal site would be feasible without changing the route too much though. Thameslink offer discounted tickets to Flitwick including transfers; I don't know how high take-up of that offer is.

Back to Hawick, I think the town itself is too small to justify an extension when there's other priorities and other stations can act as parkways, and I don't think it would make sense to serve Centre Parcs and not continue into Hawick.

 

[Zomboid]

If there were enough demand for rail transport to Centre Parcs, I'd expect Woburn Sands to be a considerably easier one to serve (around two miles from Millbrook), or plan to serve if the Marston Vale Line's going to be changed a lot anyway. I don't know exactly if serving both that and the Universal site would be feasible without changing the route too much though. Thameslink offer discounted tickets to Flitwick including transfers; I don't know how high take-up of that offer is.

Back to Hawick, I think the town itself is too small to justify an extension when there's other priorities and other stations can act as parkways, and I don't think it would make sense to serve Centre Parcs and not continue into Hawick.

When I went to the one at Woburn there was a bus provided from Flitwick station. I've no idea how well used it was.

I've also been to the one at Thetford and Mansfield, and I don't recall either of them having anything other than staff buses.

 

[dk1]

When I went to the one at Woburn there was a bus provided from Flitwick station. I've no idea how well used it was.

I've also been to the one at Thetford and Mansfield, and I don't recall either of them having anything other than staff buses.

Definitely nothing and no link up for Elvedon (Thetford).

 

[popeter45]

the old line to hawick does run close to the proposed site so if the line was extended to hawick it would be a logical idea to look at a fill in station for the parc but not as a sole reason to extend in the first place

 

[bluenoxid]

Those responding are correct that it is heavily road vehicle based. I understand that some of the sites use coaches/buses from nearby towns to get the changeover teams in.

Sherwood Center Parcs (Nottinghamshire) is within 3 miles of Edwinstowe on the Warsop/Ollerton Robin Hood line extension that is sometimes put forward. The CP head office (not an actual park and receives lost CP customers) would be in the same business park as a possible Ollerton station.

Whinfell (Cumbria) has an hourly bus service to Penrith.

There was one proposed near Gatwick, which I think might have gained a smidge more usage via public transport than the rest

 

[waverley47]

No matter what happens with the line, this announcement in no way changes the business case. Public transport is not the transport of choice for CentreParcs visitors, most commonly families with young children, multiple heavy suitcases, tents, bikes, food for a week, or some combination of the above. If it was built nextdoor to the line, with a private station, the number of passengers would still minimal.

The total number of journeys and the economic benefit to be gained from a station serving the park amounts to thousands of pounds per year, compared to a reopening cost in the billions. It will have precisely zero impact, unless CentreParcs is told to contribute money to local transport as part of the planning decision.

 

[Mr. SW]

I was up there over last Christmas and there was much local chit-chat in the press and on line. I would safely say that any people going to Center Parcs by rail could be easily accommodated on a people-carrier of moderate dimensions running to and from Galashiels Bus Station. Maybe once or week or so. Or maybe one of the regular staff could help out should the occasion demand.

Or not.

Center Parcs or the Buccleuch Estate are not going to contribute anything for a railway line to Hawick or any other line or station improvements. Not at all.

CPs contribution to local transport would probably be a minibus for a nice day trip for inmates customers to look at Melrose Abbey and Fatlips Castle.

(Yes, That's what it's called. I have been there)

 

[Dr Hoo]

As a regular CP visitor for family re-unions over the years, always coming and going on just Mondays and Fridays - changeover days - extensive use has been made of Flitwick (shuttle bus to Woburn), Brandon (lift to Elveden), Newark (taxi to Sherwood), Mansfield (lift to Sherwood) and Chesterfield (lift to Sherwood). At least some of the party have cars with them for the pick-up lifts.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I see in today's Metro, free paper, that Center Parcs are planning to spend £400 million on a new parc in Hawick. Surely that is a good incentive to build a rail connection? Up to 3,500 guests at one time.

As a family resort, most people will want to travel to it by car, and a full family car, particularly an EV, is an efficient use of road space and is environmentally efficient (certainly significantly more so than a half-loaded Voyager, if such things ever happen).

There is therefore no case whatsoever for anything better than an on demand shuttle minibus service to a nearby station with decent luggage provision in order that people who don't have cars or who really don't want to use them* can get there. If there's a local taxi company they could probably easily engage in a contract to do this and Center Parcs could advertise it.

* Which won't be many; because of the nature of Center Parcs it only really makes sense to go to your nearest one (the idea is that you stay on site and spend the week using all their facilities - it's basically a UK version of an all inclusive style resort) so not that many people will be making long journeys to one.

 

[David M]

It's between Selkirk and Hawick

 

[Bald Rick]

We’ve got one close to Thetford and have never heard of many people using the train to visit. It’s really not worth the effort and as something like this could close down at any time the only way a railway or station would even be considered is if they stump up the cost or at least a very large part of it.

I’ve trained to that one once, then a quick bike ride. Rest of the family travelled by car. Got some strange looks in the check in queue!

If there were enough demand for rail transport to Centre Parcs, I'd expect Woburn Sands to be a considerably easier one to serve (around two miles from Millbrook), or plan to serve if the Marston Vale Line's going to be changed a lot anyway. I don't know exactly if serving both that and the Universal site would be feasible without changing the route too much though. Thameslink offer discounted tickets to Flitwick including transfers; I don't know how high take-up of that offer is.

I’ve done that with a ‘minibus’ transfer from Flitwick. In reality it was a 7 seater cab. 5 of us onboard including the driver. He said that collectively the taxi drivers make a handful of trips a day between them, on Fridays, Sunday evenings and Mondays.

Which won't be many; because of the nature of Center Parcs it only really makes sense to go to your nearest one (the idea is that you stay on site and spend the week using all their facilities - it's basically a UK version of an all inclusive style resort) so not that many people will be making long journeys to one.

They are in many ways different, we’ve been to all of the UK parcs bar Whinfell. The closest to us (Woburn) we went to once but never again; it’s smaller than the others, more expensive, and the offer isn‘t as good. We vary between the others for the different offers and some variety.

Back to the OP, no the new Parc won’t help the case for a railway.

 

[JohnElliott]

There was one proposed near Gatwick, which I think might have gained a smidge more usage via public transport than the rest

"Could you just pop an extra station in the cutting at Balcombe Tunnel Junction to serve it?" doesn't sound like the sort of question that would have received an enthusiastic answer, though!

(Edit: Of course, now I've started thinking about it, I've realised the cutting was widened to take four tracks all the way to Balcombe Tunnel so it would just be a matter of crayons to fit a single track and a platform in the space between the junction and the tunnel, hook it up to the slow lines and run Three Bridges terminators to it...)

 

[brad465]

As others have said, this is a car-based attraction, maybe possible by coach/bus if the provisions (particularly around luggage and/or group deals) were good.

If any tourist attraction was going to boost the case for a rail link, it would be a major theme park and/or sports/concert venue, something being shown by Wixams and the new Universal theme park planned. But even here there would have to be either an existing rail link that could see upgrades and/or a new station, or a combined development of other purposes (such as a new town or freight terminal) that could justify a new line. Hawick does not have any of these going for it.

 

[BlueLeanie]

I love Center Parcs!

For the past three years, I've managed to justify a two week trip for the family to Florida by evidencing that it costs about the same as one week in Centre Parcs.

 

[MCR247]

My experience of Center Parcs (Sherwood Forest anyway) is that even with a station nearby you’d be severely disadvantaged to arrive on foot.

Whilst there are of course restaurants and eateries on site, the chalets have kitchenettes at least and so it makes sense to stop at a supermarket on the way for cheap essentials. And even once you arrive on site, it can be a trek to get to your actual villa/chalet which I wouldn’t fancy doing with a family plus luggage and shopping.

 

[Bald Rick]

I love Center Parcs!

For the past three years, I've managed to justify a two week trip for the family to Florida by evidencing that it costs about the same as one week in Centre Parcs.

Having recently paid for both, this is simply not true!

 

[Zomboid]

I'm not sure they're really comparable holidays anyway

 

[brad465]

I love Center Parcs!

For the past three years, I've managed to justify a two week trip for the family to Florida by evidencing that it costs about the same as one week in Centre Parcs.

This is basically the same logic behind that quote about Sainsburys being great for keeping the "riff-raff" out of Waitrose.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Having recently paid for both, this is simply not true!

Do you find that Florida is significantly cheaper?

We were under £1,000 per person for our two weeks in Orlando on a Virgin Holiday this summer, slightly more than last year. Trying to decide for 2026, but it's looking close to £900 per person.

Found a last minute deal at £620 per person for a colleague and their family going out this Sunday for 7 nights at one of the Universal hotels.

 

[Bald Rick]

Do you find that Florida is significantly cheaper?

We were under £1,000 per person for our two weeks in Orlando on a Virgin Holiday this summer, slightly more than last year. Trying to decide for 2026, but it's looking close to £900 per person.

Found a last minute deal at £620 per person for a colleague and their family going out this Sunday for 7 nights at one of the Universal hotels.

That’s remarkably cheap. Obviously, that wont include park tickets…

 

[BlueLeanie]

That’s remarkably cheap. Obviously, that wont include park tickets…

I prefer to say "good value". For us it was just the usual resort hotel, two pools, crazy golf, gym, outdoor ping pong, chess set etc.

If you want parks, you pay for the parks you want to visit. Add £480 per person for 14 days at Disney Parks

 

[och aye]

Following on from this locked thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/center-parcs-hawick.289739/

Scottish Borders Council has approved the application for Center Parcs to build their holiday village near Hawick.

Plans for Scotland's first Center Parcs wins backing of Scottish Borders Council

Councillors unanimously approve plans for the £450m development near Hawick.

www.bbc.co.uk

Plans for Scotland's first Center Parcs wins council backing​

Scotland's first Center Parcs holiday village has taken a major step forward, after winning the unanimous approval of local councillors.

Planning permission has been granted for work to begin on the £450m development near Hawick in the Scottish Borders in 2026.

As well as supporting around 800 jobs during the two-year construction phase, the park will create 1,200 permanent positions.

After the meeting, it was confirmed that the park would be called Center Parcs Scottish Borders and was expected to open in summer 2029.

 

[TheGrew]

I suspect the only public transport provision that makes sense for a Center Parcs is a bus to help staff get to and from the site. I know that's the case at Whinfell. As someone who has been to both Whinfell and Sherwood several times, I can't imagine arriving any other way than by car.