http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Borders rail link tender process scrapped en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:53:41 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-64562 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:21:46 +0000 Arellcat 64562@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have the Cinerail DVD <em>The Waverley Route</em>: an hour of vintage film of the stations like Stow and Gala and Hawick, and of things like the Lothianbridge viaduct and some of the old collieries. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-64559 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:48:51 +0000 steveo 64559@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A little on the BBC about the borders railway.<br /> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-17547706" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-17547706</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-17547712" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-17547712</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42810 Sun, 09 Oct 2011 07:24:13 +0000 chdot 42810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> It is rumoured that John Swinney likes to see 'evidence' to justify spending - which is fair enough.</p> <p>What is surprising is that no-one (apparently) can provide convincing evidence for the benefits of cycling - certainly Sustrans publishes a lot of data about the increasing use of its network.<br /> "</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3963&amp;page=2&amp;replies=49#post-42809">New development on Spending Review thread</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42647 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:13:51 +0000 DaveC 42647@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I really like the old brick stations. Its a shame so often that they are closed up and locked these days. In my home tow, they built a station over a hundred years go which was a huge lovely brick ornate building with wooded feature shelters, on both sides. They had the place all locked up and a cheepy looking (since demolished) plastic 'shed' as the only protection from the elements for passengers (apart from the over hanging wooden shelter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42623 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:52:35 +0000 ruggtomcat 42623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>must do that again sometime.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42621 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:43:44 +0000 chdot 42621@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/prestonpans/articles/2011/10/06/418176-artists-get-whole-new-platform/">Real station - stone + art by local people</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42620 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:43:30 +0000 kaputnik 42620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>small wind turbines </em></p> <p>When Ruggtomcat and I pedalled into the wind to the Glasgow bike show, I noticed that a lot of the line-side boxes had little wind turbines and solar panels on the roof. I also noticed that most of them had already been smashed up :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42618 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:19:41 +0000 chdot 42618@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Unfortunately, decent brick work is more expensive than perspex bus shelters and the aesthetic positives never seem to find their way into the value for money assessments of these things."</p> <p>All true and all relative.</p> <p>A half-decent design with some sort of 'local features' added can't really add that much to the cost. Rail Stations are already more expensive than they need be (<a href="http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/pdf/2011-04-01-tram-train-brochure.pdf">cheap/quick/very utilitarian alternative</a>).</p> <p>It <em>might</em> even be good for business. It's sadly comical that one justification for the tram is that people 'won't get out of their cars for buses'.</p> <p><em>Real</em> train passengers have to suffer the same sort of inadequate bus 'shelter'.</p> <p>In a well run world ALL stations would have staff. In a BIG society world it would be easy to get volunteers - as long as they had somewhere to drink tea and a uniform to wear...</p> <p>In these days of CCTV, solar panels and small wind turbines (ideal for the moors of West Lothian) it should be easy/desirable/affordable to get attractive (warm <em>and </em>pretty) stations that wouldn't be vandalised and which would probably attract more passengers to help pay the marginal cost increase. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42617 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:04:57 +0000 kaputnik 42617@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>It's only a shame that the Airdrie-Bathgate project resulted in identikit railway stations that have no character to them at all. </em></p> <p>Network rail are certainly good at the utterly functional and utilitarian. I think they must have been slipped brown paper envelopes by the suppliers of galvanised steel poles and fencing. It's the defining feature of the A2B route. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42616 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:01:27 +0000 PS 42616@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Decent brickwork is underrated in my opinion. "</em></p> <p>Unfortunately, decent brick work is more expensive than perspex bus shelters and the aesthetic positives never seem to find their way into the value for money assessments of these things. </p> <p>Oh, for a return to the railway barons who built to impress (only without the lack of integration and impending crippling bankruptcies). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42615 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:52:25 +0000 chdot 42615@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"rail route 'essential' to economy"</p> <p>I suspect most people on here are more sympathetic to spending large amounts on rail rather than road. (Trams are another matter..)</p> <p>The strange thing is that it always seems easier to predict the benefits of large scale projects than smaller ones.</p> <p>This is presumably why the current <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3963">Scottish <em>draft</em> Spending Review</a> proposes a <em>reduction</em> in spending on cycle schemes (<a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3963&amp;page=2#post-42571">Spokes response</a>).</p> <p>It is rumoured that John Swinney likes to see 'evidence' to justify spending - which is fair enough.</p> <p>What is surprising is that no-one (apparently) can provide convincing evidence for the benefits of cycling - certainly <a href="http://Sustrans.org.uk">Sustrans</a> publishes a lot of data about the increasing use of its network.</p> <p>Less surprising is the willingness to accept whatever 'benefits' are claimed for 'improved' road infrastructure. It's hard to believe the projected traffic increase estimates for the next few years (you also have to start from the position that catering for this 'demand' is necessary).</p> <p>By contrast, passenger projections for rail schemes in Scotland have usually <em>under</em>estimated the actual usage.</p> <p>The Scottish Government talks about "sustainable growth" and "<a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3963#post-41475">preventative spending</a>" so you'd think they'd be happy to be <em>seen</em> to be spending money to encourage cycling - even if it didn't work!!</p> <p>(<em>We</em> all know it does work...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42614 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:47:34 +0000 Arellcat 42614@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At least if Network Rail manages the whole project, it stands a good chance of a) being completed, and b) being completed on time and on budget.</p> <p>It's only a shame that the Airdrie-Bathgate project resulted in identikit railway stations that have no character to them at all. Decent brickwork is underrated in my opinion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42612 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:17:10 +0000 amir 42612@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Borders to Edinburgh rail route 'essential' to economy</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15188094" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15188094</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42125 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:21:52 +0000 chdot 42125@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Multi-million-pound blueprint to bring better rail services across Scotland</p> <p>FASTER and more frequent trains across Scotland have been promised in the railways' latest blueprint to cope with booming passenger numbers.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Multimillionpound-blueprint-to-bring-better.6845180.jp" rel="nofollow">http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Multimillionpound-blueprint-to-bring-better.6845180.jp</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42124 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:18:36 +0000 chdot 42124@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Network Rail has agreed to take over the project but last night refused to rule out further delays and cost increases."</p> <p><a href="http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Borders-rail-Uturn-sparks-fear.6845179.jp" rel="nofollow">http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Borders-rail-Uturn-sparks-fear.6845179.jp</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4052#post-42098 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:46:12 +0000 crowriver 42098@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Borders rail link tender process scrapped</p> <p>Transport Scotland will be delivering the Borders railway line, ministers announced<br /> The Scottish government has scrapped its plan to get a private company to build the new Borders railway, because of a lack of interest. Transport minister Keith Brown said the £295m project would now be taken forward with Network Rail.</p> <p>The move comes after several consortia dropped out of the competition, for commercial reasons. Ministers said the 35-mile (56km) line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank was still on course to open in December 2014."</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15114770" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15114770</a></p> <p>Quite a relief really. At least the line will happen now. </p>