It would be good to see Porty re-opened and selected ones on the South Sub, but I'm less convinced about Abbeyhill.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Resources
"Great Ideas and Initiatives for the Borders Railway"
(558 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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The difficulty of getting the likes of Network Rail and even Scotrail onboard for the South Sub is capacity at and through both Haymarket and Waverley.
I suppose they could use the dead-end Platform 0 at Haymarket and one of the North Berwick bay platforms at the east end of Waverley and not provide a true circle service, but rather a shuttle back and forth from Haymarket to Waverley the "long way around" via the Sub.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Rail bosses have told campaigners they can’t keep a promise to reopen a mothballed East Lothian station next year – because there aren’t enough trains in Scotland.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Make some more then...
Posted 8 years ago # -
In other news, ministers have announced the cancellation of A9 dualling, as there are "not enough cars in Scotland".
Posted 8 years ago # -
Lots of news recently!
"The 14 June marks the formal contract completion for BAM Nuttall on the Borders Railway project and the date when the new railway transfers officially to the ScotRail Alliance team. "
"This week marks an important milestone in the Borders Railway project as ScotRail begins driver and conductor training on the new line. "
"ScotRail has confirmed that tickets for travel on the new Borders Railway are now available on its website."
http://www.bordersrailway.co.uk/news/2015/june/borders-railway-tickets-now-on-sale.aspx
Ticket prices to all destinations listed too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/highlands-set-to-lose-modern-trains-to-borders-1-3828324
Unions and the Highlands now upset at the prospect that "their" refurbished trains will go to the Borders and they will get the un-refurbished units and have to wait for the upgrade programme.
Union man claims the units are "decommissioned" (they're not).
Article draws attention to the narrow doors used on the 158 units (they are particularly narrow and slow opening, part of a design shortcoming), however doesn't note that the refurbishment doesn't do anything about the doors.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
Alastair Dalton (@AlastairDalton)
24/07/2015 16:46
Union of South Africa to haul @ScotRail steam trains on Borders Railway, 3x weekly x 6wks, 10 Sept @TheScotsman #livehttp://pic.twitter.com/VkFZIqy4qS
"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/all-aboard-for-return-of-steam-to-borders-line-1-3840448
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot that tweet is now a story on the BBC website, no more info than you have supplied except first steam train on line between Waverley and tweed bank four days after the line opens and a photo of a steam train
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
Green MSP has raised concerns about the capacity for bicycles on the trains which will run on the new Edinburgh to Borders railway.
"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-31693259
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
A veteran rail campaigner who fought to save the Edinburgh to Borders railway line from closure in the 1960s has taken her first trip on its replacement.
"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33679642
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-33688052
Posted 8 years ago # -
There's no turning facilities at Tweedbank - wonder if the engine runs tender-first back to Edinburgh? Kind of spoils the lines of a streamlined steam locomotive if running back to front.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Its a bit embarrassing really, all this fan fair for a single wee line which will spend most of its time as a short commuter park and ride
routefrom Eskbank and surrounding areas.Posted 8 years ago # -
More info about steam service:
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-by-rail/steam-trains
Wrong piccie though.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Unfortunately, because of the cost savings, there isn't capacity on the line to run the steam specials without cancelling regular services...
Posted 8 years ago # -
all this fan fair for a single wee line
That may be, but I think there's 3 main reasons for the hullaballoo;
1 - there's been a long, long campaign to restore the service to the Borders. Ever since it last closed in fact, and now they've got it back. It's rather like cycling infrastructure - what we get is not ideal, it's got shortcomings and costs have been cut, but it's an improvement on nothing and people campaign long and hard for it.
2 - it's still the longest railway restoration in the UK and also the longest traditional railway built in the UK in the last 100 years (Channel Tunnel Rail Link excepted)
3 - Keith Broon still just loves donning a hard hat and hi-viz for the cameras.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Greatly disappointed with the new service already.
I am doing an audax from Gala in October and would like to go on the train from Gala. However despite what the Scotrail website indicates, you cannot book one of the limited spaces in advance. As I'd be getting on at Eskbank, there is a good chance that the train will be bike-full already due to the audax.
Hurumph
Posted 8 years ago # -
The banner does say, Taking a bike? Give us a call on 0344 811 0141 to check availability and make a reservation.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I phoned the number and they said it wasn't true! I suggested that they might talk to Scotrail to correct the website - she didn't seem to keen to do that.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Very few Scotrail services have seat reservations, and generally no seat reservations = no bike reservations.
If the Highland Class 158's they have officially space for 5 bikes, but stacked thoughtfully many more will fit. have got 8 bikes in the space by small toilet - stacked 2 high and wedged against ceiling
Cycling forum today at 14.00 remind me for AOB!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Tulyar - all dependent on the train staff, though. On an empty train I had a staff member advise that we couldn't but more than two bikes in the space, not three on the floor, no stacking, etc.
It's too much stress to travel with a family by bike, and gamble on having the correct staff on board. So I've bought folding bikes...
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
Allowing staff discretion is a great thing, when it works in your favour, but it means that you can never quite be sure what sort of reception you're going to get if you turn up at a station with a bike and no reservation.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Allowing staff discretion is a great thing, when it works in your favour, but it means that you can never quite be sure what sort of reception you're going to get if you turn up at a station with a bike and no reservation."
And uncertainty is a killer of good intentions
Posted 8 years ago # -
Just had an email round the office saying that 4 trains a day will be running direct (at least) as far as South Gyle from the Borders.
also contained the following line; "All stations and trains used on the service will be bike friendly.
"Posted 8 years ago # -
"4 trains a day will be running direct (at least) as far as South Gyle from the Borders"
If only they could come via the South Sub!
"All stations and trains used on the service will be bike friendly."
Is that ScotRail wording?
Perhaps get back to whoever sent email and ask 'how many bikes' and 'can I book'.
(And everyone else who got same email...)
Posted 8 years ago # -
This would have been so handy when my mate was living in Gala, would have enabled much more drinking. 10 minute walk to EDP and a 10 minute walk to his from the train station at the other end.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Depending on where you look on the web it might be either 3 or four during each of the rush hours.
I hope they will be in both directions and weekends too, it would create a great option for a day trip to the Borders using the new line.
Posted 8 years ago #
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