connects city edinburgh scottish borders railway follows alignment northern double track line southern scotland northern england ran edinburgh line closed cuts leaving borders region access network following closure campaign revive emerged discussion reopening northern line came head early 2000s following scotland act received june project renamed borders railway august building works began november passenger service line began september whilst official opening queen elizabeth_ii took place september railway rebuilt non electrified largely single track line surviving structures including tunnels reused reopened railway passenger services run half hourly hourly sundays allows charter train promoters run special excursion services weeks following line opening scheduled steam trains run background closure opened line edinburgh far scottish borders extension brought line england line known novels sir stories set surrounding countryside closed january following recommendation closure report line according information released potential savings british railways line closure addition estimated grant required maintain service line passenger train edinburgh sleeper january worked class arrived hours late anti closure protesters blocking line campaign revive borders rail borders architect conducted survey route led set company evaluate possibility reopening having carried feasibility work company came close lodging parliamentary plans reopen section timber traffic based company founded able advance project reopen section passengers moves came supported motion called line means reversing economic decline borders region followed feasibility study conducted commissioned reported february planning environmental constraints original line reused major obstacles need overcome substantial costs number identified mile section edinburgh breach line shallow angle resulting yards alignment buried reported result improvements road small housing estate built line found line south infrastructure costs million report indicated patronage projections new line encouraging route options examined producing positive cost benefit value option came closest neutral cost benefit assessment reopening far indicate reopening line benefit borders region providing better links edinburgh creating new jobs wilson suggested border counties railway far reinstated cost million allow timber traffic carried southern new borders line furthermore line speeds mph achieved single line resulting journey time minutes compared minutes car despite recommendations report political pressure borders region eventually resulted giving support extension edinburgh commuter network miles far area pressure came particular behalf february presented petition signatures petition received unanimous support parliament submitted parliamentary chamber debate bid million allow parliamentary order reopening far taken forward funding obtained local authorities created promote scheme july committee gave approval reopening far lengthy period consultation proposed line passenger services reintroduced surviving freight section stations opened june miles edinburgh providing park ride service city new service termed extended continued initially operated diesel multiple units service electrified rail link service circle line continued use diesel trains success provided forward momentum project business case business case line published showing modest benefit cost ratio case built projected housing developments borders led anti rail backlash local elections success representing party described scheme waste money called funds instead glasgow airport rail link indicated low ratio followed choice build single track line half hourly commuter services capacity freight specials february final business case released showed benefit cost ratio led journal today comment line worst performing major transport projects funded recent times campaign borders rail responded stating ratio based modelling route potential patronage predicting yearly return trips equivalent passengers day train number existing bus service parliamentary approval bill debated september motion supporting passed favour bill committee published final report supporting project recommendations station provided line completed extent far recommendations accepted final debate bill june bill carried votes scotland act received june sanctioned construction miles new railway far seven new stations total act taken parliamentary years passed committee meetings witnesses quantity paper feet height line longest stretch railway reopened modern british history miles longer project longest line scotland opening west highland line august project renamed project control statutory undertaker building works process october launch stalled following discussions new regulations required public private partnerships recorded public expenditure project announced finance secretary november stated construction line begin prior elections process finally began december contract notice published transport scotland announced june submitted expressions interest project invited participate competitive dialogue sir miller mid november withdrawal resulted consortium pulling bidding process second consortium withdrew june following decision continue led cancellation tender procedure scottish transport minister chosen undertake project following months negotiations transfer responsibility signed ceremony held november agreed build line million increase estimated million line expected cost million originally figure substantially million chief executive agreed build line late early december appointed main contractor team worked line essentially delivered spokesman confirmed lessons learned previous project applied borders project better coordination different teams having office june design contract line awarded agreed design new bridges stations roads refurbishment existing bridges provision engineering support million project specifications line comprises miles single line track distance miles plus new bridges refurbished bridges refurbished tunnels required million tonnes earth moved stations provided according line suitable double track event business case doubling line outset result miles line single track dynamic passing loops providing miles double track allow half hourly services route electrified provision install overhead line required bridges built gauge certain sections line designed speeds miles hour average speeds line region miles hour line substantial structures greatest engineering challenge posed point track met point tunnel constructed road temporarily diverted total project incorporated new associated road schemes major challenges posed abandoned shafts north route dated 16th century mapped bridges involved scheme route crosses times vital bridges line carries track roundabout required extensive works works included digging cutting outskirts nearby bridge allow line pass power lines works commence turned march scottish transport minister attended ceremony presence triggered clause railway act committed scottish government complete line works commenced construction began earnest april completion preparatory works land acquisition removal vegetation demolition certain structures works old mines million spent task excavation track alignment clearing site station construction line bridge bridge underway august works line edinburgh returns original alignment arch removing construction site eased traffic local roads track laid april september train years works train ran began earnest october preliminary works resulted section slab track laid south large sections route pre cast switch crossing units passing loops route section structural repairs carried end october miles track laid far double track loop completed plus miles second track loop work halted late november contractor working gala area injured sleeper came loose lifted position landed leg work restarted january following review track installation february track complete hundreds spectators turned welcome train station hauled class completion february machine reached end line station large crowd gathered track train complete second platform return day formal completion took place february final length rail place period construction rails laid infrastructure complete attention turned installation signalling communications equipment stations system controlled place april test train class worked june ceremony held mark final stages completion works veteran founder member class renamed honour official completion line group formed took place june week period driver training drivers guards began june class promoting new line undertaking proving run measure stepping distances platforms trains train carried large number staff stopped stations presence large crowds spectators following day class driver training runs july driver training train carried borders rail opening passenger services began september railway officially opened queen elizabeth_ii september majesty travelled duke edinburgh minister class presence owner locomotive hauled mark provided car bad weather queen helicopter journey delayed resulted late departure train delay service cleared single line section south majesty plaque marking opening railway second plaque unveiled following day class commenced week programme borders steam specials promoted saw services run days week passengers carried fully booked services month operations passengers travelled borders railway demand far excess expected line carrying predicted annual patronage month unexpected level patronage resulted services passengers unable board intermediate stations leading run carriages morning peak trains leased additional parking space near station space car park provided generally near station reported visitor numbers nearby towns confirmed rise business tourism route details line characteristics line begins south existing terminus parallel alignment west crosses line section double track starts continues miles point new alignment passes bypass yards south west original route new bridge carries bypass double track rejoined southern end double track loop king gate single track miles crossed king gate single arch span built edinburgh railway scotland oldest railway bridges south yard concrete span bridge carries line road damage caused soon followed arch single track runs centre structure case second double track section begins continues station mile single track section extends far yard reinforced concrete box takes line original alignment having lost allow road straightened final section double track begins approach continues southwards miles reverse curves yard reaching mile stretch entirely single track save approach yard traversed river crossings miles required new bridge spans line eastwards steep bank wall supermarket occupies station site final miles line follows original alignment reconstructed embankment excavated cutting crossing river category listed terms line proceeds level climbs summit feet sea level ruling gradient descends typical gradient tenth highest standard gauge railway summit britain feet lower summit loop gradient climbs southwards posed challenge past steam locomotives pulling heavy loads potential doubling exists passive provision line seven sets points dynamic loops terminus places served mile long route serves stations total running time minutes services certain services slowed conflicts operators services edinburgh area new stations staffed ticket machines train information provided stations park ride facilities local council built million bus rail interchange station late addition scheme lobbying campaigning resulted platforms line terminus extended yards accommodate tourist charter trains carriages length passive provision extension station platforms yards yards station convenient campus naming line recorded use term describe reopened line paper january entitled delivering innovative commissioned previously edinburgh line variously described considered launching competition public submit ideas strongly opposed basis developed strong brand identity use line considered historically inaccurate names original line far predicted station usage predicted total passenger return journeys year operation cases included extra journeys broken combined month actual number passengers compared predicted annual total return journeys single journeys operation services monday saturday services half hourly direction hourly service provided sundays weekday service departs service leaving edinburgh departure times edinburgh usually minutes past hour trains depart minutes past hour individual vary minute trains starting close hour peaks evenings sunday service stops services operate edinburgh morning peak services continue circle line evening peak services originate route operated new took control april class line bears special advertising tourist attractions borders indicated car trains run initially possibility car formations class glasgow edinburgh route electrified published train driver positions planned depot interest substantial applications posts according scottish transport minister allows charter train promoters run special excursion services hourly evening sunday services trains departures edinburgh departures affected scheduled steam trains initial plans announced february indicated end end fare stipulated average fare working according fare structure published june adult single fare edinburgh given adult day return peak early new published follows community rail partnership launching railway community rail partnership formed project benefits speaking november scottish transport minister predicted bring inward investment local communities million benefits wider scottish economy construction phase support jobs act catalyst increased business development housing area distance edinburgh car journeys reduced peak trips year reduce carbon emissions alleviate traffic accidents roads housing prediction came pass reported august housing boom triggered line number new houses having doubled previous year located proximity line stations expected houses built area years august minister scotland announced meeting members expected railway benefit scottish economy millions pounds feasibility study conducted identify ways line boost tourism borders region criticism infrastructure capability line construction described resembling basic railway built tight budget incorporating number cost saving features contrast reopened built double track electrified railway outset difference lines claimed commentators reflect existed proposals 1990s reluctance allow project ambitious particular cost cutting exercise resulted new project specification reduced dynamic passing loops planned length miles failed future proof line providing road bridges built single track width including bridges section obstacles doubling line similarly key section far built single track notably bridges contrast quality local roads built new line including wider required accommodate possible extra road lanes press release indicated addition miles new line project funding miles new roads later revealed late changes rail infrastructure insisted ensure project remained budget time addition lack siding line difficult rescue locomotives recover broken train causing widespread disruption fears prove justified line month operation number publicised problems ranging resulting passengers standing journey difficulties excessive times stations furthermore signalling problems led disruption line nearly month opening whilst campaign acknowledged half hourly weekday stopping service useful questions best use line carry types traffic organisation proposed tier service half hourly stopping train hourly limited express service continue north failure continue scott wilson report consider extending line increased capital operating costs continuing corresponding increase passenger demand consider strong case reaching basis town role borders tourism opening complaints lack seats provision ticket machines lack parking especially high demand led increase services carriage trains general opening line contributed general shortage train carriages network leading hiring extra trains proposed extensions called continuation line eventually according group suffered town borders closure return railway halt area economic decline time closure minute journey edinburgh southbound station platform building exist alongside confirmed prevent extension line commentators remarked bypass pose problems major realignment road required bridges support reconstruction miles given minister scotland april comment given speech run scottish independence referendum line provide opportunity access vast areas forestry land provide strategic route event closure east_coast calls line reopening come transport scotland ruled mile extension line favour connecting bus services improved cycling walking routes june scottish infrastructure minister confirmed talks underway commissioning feasibility study extension tourism minister stated july rule extension describing line exciting effective events transport services tourism reported asked carry feasibility study mile rail link connecting miles new line follow edinburgh alignment generally intact
Borders Railway