CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Resources
"Great Ideas and Initiatives for the Borders Railway"
(558 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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Shawfair produced roughly only a seventh of the journeys that were originally forecast
I assume that's because they didn't think they'd be building a big station that was still surrounded by fields
Posted 7 years ago # -
It's entirely the right way round to do it. Just look - six years on - at how much dormitory volume housing is going up along the Airdrie Bathgate line. Takes time. Wouldn't have happened if these former mining villages still had 2 buses a day and were 90 mins drive to the cities.
I'd argue the tram not making it to the seafront is high up if not number one on the list of reasons why Platinum Point and Granton Harbour are still postindustrial wastelands with some tower blocks and not blossoming communities.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"It's entirely the right way round to do it."
In the all too often neglected 'put in the key infrastructure first' sense. Of course that should mean path networks and things like schools and shops.
All of which has been planned for Shawfair for years. In the past there were even joint companies involving CEC, Midlothian and various house builders.
There is currently a lot of building around the nearby sleepy settlement of Millerhill, but no signs around the Monktonhall Colliery site (apart from the post Powderhall refuse processing plant).
No idea whether the land is overvalued - perhaps because of the station amenity - or whether there are just easier areas to develop first.
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The development has been designed with the aim of creating a brand new neighbourhood, around the Millerhill Community Hub which will provide a mixture or local retail and community health facilities. Millerhill has been designed with green space in the form of a village square at its heart. The wider Shawfair development will also provide two new primary schools and a brand new secondary school campus and other community facilities including a public library and community hall.
"
http://www.macmic.co.uk/house-developments/new-homes-in-edinburgh-the-east/millerhill/
Posted 7 years ago # -
"I'd argue the tram not making it to the seafront is high up if not number one on the list of reasons ... "
It's an interesting one. I'm sure better public transport would help, but it partly depends where expected residents are expected to work.
Arguably the most important tram route would be the one down the Roseburn corridor making it easier/quicker to access the employment opportunities in the west.
That is no longer in any current plans.
For the price of tram extension to Newhaven, Edinburgh could have an impressive walk/cycle network.
In the meantime it would help if there were quality walk/cycle connections from the existing housing along the shoreline to the NEPN.
Posted 7 years ago # -
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Edmonstone Walk - Off The Wisp - Edinburgh - City of Edinburgh - EH16 4SG 1.47 miles from Shawfair
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https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/scotland/city-of-edinburgh/edinburgh/edmonstone-walk
Marginally closer than Newcraighall Station
https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/55975156/#balanced
Posted 7 years ago # -
Good news. Could any road compete with this?
http://mediacentre.visitscotland.org/pressreleases/tourism-visitor-figures-boost-attributed-to-borders-railway-1775513Extract from above.
- • The number of visitor days in hotels and bed and breakfasts has risen by 27 per cent
• A 20 per cent rise in visitor spend on food and drink
• Visitor spend on accommodation is up 17 per cent
• A 16 per cent rise in overall visitor spend
• The number of days visitors stayed in the Borders has increased by almost 11 per cent
• Eight per cent increase in employment related to tourismPosted 7 years ago # -
I hope the study also considers Berwick via Melrose, Kelso and Coldstream.
Posted 7 years ago # -
ROTFL @ Klaxon. We're "lucky" to have an upgraded bus service running Berwick-Coldstream-Kelso-Melrose-Galashiels - now runs almost hourly from 7am to 7pm as far as I recall.
I've never witnessed more than half a dozen people on board.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Of course this is part of the 'problem' -
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Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: “In the Scottish Government’s programme for government, a commitment was given to examine the case for an extension of the Borders Railway along with improvements to the A1, A7 and A68.
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Where's the 'seven month study' for the viability of "improvements to the A1, A7 and A68"?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Where's the 'seven month study' for the viability of "improvements to the A1, A7 and A68"?
Indeed. Of course, in Scotland, it's a given that roads improvements are *always* justified. It's just the other non-road stuff that needs business cases, justification, consultation, etc.
Though to be fair, the 7 month study seems to be looking at transport overall: "Transport Scotland intends to appoint Jacobs UK to carry out the study into road, rail and public transport in the region."
Posted 7 years ago # -
We were fortunate to get bikes on Borders train y/day thanks to guard. Two of us got on at Brunstane, but 4 lads with BMX bikes (who arrived at station after us) hopped on first, and there was already one bike stored on the train. So that was seven bikes altogether when the train has capacity for two. Guard didn't seem delighted, but didn't deny us either. He did say though that "Some (guards) would only allow two ....".
We thanked him profusely several times (in hope that he will continue to take "relaxed view" whenever he is on duty).
Posted 7 years ago # -
@jules 878, I had a nice guard like that once and he told me that the people he let on above the max were initially grateful but then their bike was scratched by another cyclist and tthe original people he let on reported this and the guard was disciplined.
I am going with my bike to stow but midweek midday from Waverley so expect will be ok
Posted 7 years ago # -
Good point. We stood next to our bikes cos we knew the BMX bikes were coming off first. No easy answers?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@jules878 indeed no answers at all as it costs the carrier to let us on with a bike as we are taking up space.
Ironically the best designed rolling stock for taking bikes and passengers is the old trains on the slow route to Glasgow via shotts. You can hang six or eight bikes up in the space and when busy people can still stand in that space. However the max number of bikes I have ever seen on that train is four.
I was looking out the window the other day and spotted four mamils heading down the platform pushing their bikes to the front of the inter city train and I was thinking what is going to happen here as the last time I took bike to London there was only room for two or three bikes but fortunately it was old rolling stock with a big guards van at the front which takes up to eight bikes and lot of parcels etc? Happy outcome fr the mamils.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Happy outcome fr the mamils"
They will have booked.
Posted 7 years ago # -
A couple of times a day the Fife circle has 1970s era rolling stock towed by a huge diesel freight engine. Big comfy seats and tables, slam doors that only open from outside, and a big guards van at the back with loads of space for bikes, luggage etc.
Sometimes "progress" doesn't improve things...
Posted 7 years ago # -
"A couple of times a day the Fife circle has 1970s era rolling stock towed by a huge diesel freight engine"
Week day rush hour commuter service.
Keep meaning to try it!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Very likely that the mamils had booked. However how did they work out that the train would have the spaces? Do you phone up and say four on the 8.30 - sorry, 9.00 sorry 9.30 sorry 10.00a.m. Yes ? Then that will definitely be he rolling stock for that time barring mishaps?
Posted 7 years ago # -
1970s era rolling stock towed by a huge diesel freight engine
The Class 68s are the best thing for aural delight on the railways since they took the Valentas out of the HSTs.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"The Class 68s are the best thing for aural delight"
You mean noisy.
Sound doesn't come close to a Deltic for quality.
Posted 7 years ago # -
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Tweedbank: 45.00%
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On time.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Used this train twice ever to get to Stow. On time both times but outwith rush hour
Someone was hit on the aqueduct on the line nearer Edinburgh yesterday?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@gembo, yes, there was a fatality at Eskbank Station, near the Glenesk Viaduct. The media was illustrating the news article with a photo of the Newbattle/Lothianbridge viaduct.
Posted 7 years ago # -
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Borders Railway (@BordersRailway)
04/07/2017, 17:45
The Borders Railway corridor contributed £23bn to nearby regions in 2015. The perfect place to do business!http://pic.twitter.com/NFRcVz79OM
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The phrase 'made up figure' comes to mind, better this spin than 'new road will create millions of jobs and save billions in reducing congestion' etc.
Posted 7 years ago # -
£23bn?!
Posted 7 years ago # -
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There is widespread concern that Network Rail has been guilty of ‘gold plating’ schemes making many worthy proposals seem unafordable. The 40 security cameras provided at Stow station on the Borders Railway is but one example of profligate expenditure.
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Posted 7 years ago # -
OK, this isn't Borders -
Another rail line that might get re-opened after a campaign.
https://twitter.com/humzayousaf/status/913099526696833024
(More expensive than sorting our Picardy Place.)
Posted 7 years ago #
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