Reinstatement of the Waverley Route

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Probably the same as 500 charter train passengers do in Bleanau Ffestiniog if they've just missed the little train.

Wait.

[BJamieson]

The latest news from the Borders, calls for a redesign of Tweedbank Station to accomodate charter trains, quite what 500 passengers will do when they alight at Tweedbank is another matter!
http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/rou ... e-borders/

Agreed that Tweedbank will not be an attraction in itself (something of an understatement!), although Abbotsford House, which reopens to the public next year, is only about a mile from the amended station site and should be walkable by a lot of people. For the moderately fit it would also be feasible to walk alongside the Tweed to Melrose (abbey, gardens, plenty of cafes) and get a bus back to Tweedbank, but there's no denying that a vital component of any railtour would have to be an onward coach tour taking in a permutation of the above attractions plus Dryburgh Abbey, Scott's View and (possibly) further afield.

Bill

[60041]

The latest news from the Borders, calls for a redesign of Tweedbank Station to accomodate charter trains, quite what 500 passengers will do when they alight at Tweedbank is another matter!
http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/rou ... e-borders/

Agreed that Tweedbank will not be an attraction in itself (something of an understatement!), although Abbotsford House, which reopens to the public next year, is only about a mile from the amended station site and should be walkable by a lot of people. For the moderately fit it would also be feasible to walk alongside the Tweed to Melrose (abbey, gardens, plenty of cafes) and get a bus back to Tweedbank, but there's no denying that a vital component of any railtour would have to be an onward coach tour taking in a permutation of the above attractions plus Dryburgh Abbey, Scott's View and (possibly) further afield.

Bill

Yes its an awful shame that they could not find a way to take the line to Melrose and use whats left of the old station, although some of the older passengers might be a bit out of puff by the time they have run up the hill to catch the train!

[Coronach]

If the new line is a success in terms of passenger numbers, which I'm confident it will be when you see what has happened with other Scottish re-openings, then I wouldn't be surprised if it's extended to Hawick within ten years. Hawick is, after all the largest town in the Borders and the largest in Scotland without a rail connection.

Dave.

[60041]

More news concerning the reinstatement of the line from yesterdays Herald;
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/tran ... k.17117200
Its a bit ironic that they are using a photo of Melrose to illustrate the article when there are not any plans at present to go that far.

[60041]

Another update on the progress of the line, this time from the CILT:
http://www.ciltscotland.com/mr120412.php

[BJamieson]

If the new line is a success in terms of passenger numbers, which I'm confident it will be when you see what has happened with other Scottish re-openings, then I wouldn't be surprised if it's extended to Hawick within ten years. Hawick is, after all the largest town in the Borders and the largest in Scotland without a rail connection.

Dave.

While agreeing with the sentiments, I would point out that there are larger Scottish towns than Hawick not on the rail network - Peterhead and Methil/Buckhaven come to mind. However I don't think there's any doubt, considering the combination of population and distance to the closest railhead, that Hawick is currently the most disadvantaged town in Scotland in this respect.

Bill

[BJamieson]

The latest news from the Borders, calls for a redesign of Tweedbank Station to accomodate charter trains, quite what 500 passengers will do when they alight at Tweedbank is another matter!
http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/rou ... e-borders/

Agreed that Tweedbank will not be an attraction in itself (something of an understatement!), although Abbotsford House, which reopens to the public next year, is only about a mile from the amended station site and should be walkable by a lot of people. For the moderately fit it would also be feasible to walk alongside the Tweed to Melrose (abbey, gardens, plenty of cafes) and get a bus back to Tweedbank, but there's no denying that a vital component of any railtour would have to be an onward coach tour taking in a permutation of the above attractions plus Dryburgh Abbey, Scott's View and (possibly) further afield.

Bill

Yes its an awful shame that they could not find a way to take the line to Melrose and use whats left of the old station, although some of the older passengers might be a bit out of puff by the time they have run up the hill to catch the train!

It's very curious that Melrose was never even seriously considered as a first stage terminus. Back in 2000, or whenever it was, consultant Scott Wilson looked at Selkirk, Tweedbank, Kelso and Hawick as potential end points - I wonder why not Melrose as well.

Bill

[Coronach]

I was unaware of Kelso's consideration. One for the future perhaps?

Meanwhile, the Border Union Railway's passenger service commences on 1st of July at Whitrope Heritage Centre, marking the 150th anniversary of the first services over the route.


http://www.borderunionrailway.co.uk/WHC_BUR_2012v3.pdf

Dave.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Why don't we simply remove the word "impossible" from the Railway Preservationist's Dictionary? Seems like a bit of a redundant word these days....

[Coronach]

Station's almost ready to go and the LEV4 Railbus is arriving today, all being well.
We do not recognise the word 'impossible' at the BURC, so come on up and have a look. Only a short running length for this first season, but acorns aren't big either...

Dave.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I really hope this is a go-er for you.

[Tom F]

Station's almost ready to go and the LEV4 Railbus is arriving today, all being well.
We do not recognise the word 'impossible' at the BURC, so come on up and have a look. Only a short running length for this first season, but acorns aren't big either...

Dave.

Forget the station picture.....it's Abbie!

[West_Stanley]

When will the first stage of this reinstated line reopen? Have they mentioned a date?

[Coronach]

Work has already commenced and the line should be operational for early 2015.
Keep up with the latest developments here.

http://www.bordersrailway.co.uk/news.aspx

and here.

http://waverleyrouteha.wordpress.com/

Dave.