Borders railway: a game-changing project

“It is the longest domestic railway in more than a century to open. It was done within the timescale and on budget. Before that there was just a litany of campaigns. Network Rail deserves credit for making it happen. 

“This area is now on the railway map. That is often not understood. The idea of being on a map is an extremely important one. It opens up communities and allows places to grow. The start of services starts a new phase of regional development. 

“We are entering something of a golden age for Scotland’s railways. There is the Stirling-Alloa line. There is 7% growth year on year and 85 million passengers per year.

“There is a new appetite for railways and I hope it continues.”

He added on September 6, when it opened: “Many people have waited a very long time to hear those words and I am proud and excited to be able to say them.

“The communities along the route have now been able to experience their new railway. From today they will be able to make it a part of their everyday lives.

“Scotland’s railways are enjoying a period of success not seen since the time that the old Waverley line was built in the Victorian era, largely thanks to the Scottish Government’s record levels of investment, but also because the people of Scotland see the benefits of rail.

“The Borders Railway will be a real catalyst for growth in the Scottish Borders and Midlothian. It will open up new opportunities for work, leisure, education and business investment for these areas which will, in turn, benefit the wider Scottish economy.

“Today promises to be a busy day for the new line and I look forward to seeing just how many people have turned up to enjoy these first ever ScotRail Borders Railway services.”

Danny Cusick, Senior Director (Food & Drink, Tourism and Textiles), Scottish Enterprise explains: “The impact the railway could have on the Borders region is huge. Four million tourists per year visit the region, spending £1.5 billion. But it is not just tourism where there are huge opportunities; there are other growth opportunities too. Almost 700,000 people live in the region and contribute £21bn to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the UK. Of the population, 34% have studied at higher education levels, meaning there is a fantastic pool of talent available. The region is home to 27,000 businesses. Between now and 2037, it is expected that there will be an extra 37,000 jobs created there. Over 100 development sites have been identified, and a large housing development at Shawfair is under construction, which also includes retail opportunities. 

For those that built it, there is also a sense of pride. Travelling on the launch train on September 4, NR Project Manager Hugh Wark is clearly delighted. He says: “It is great to be here. I first got involved in 2011. That was when Transport Scotland looked to Network Rail to take over. We took on design and scheme development.

“The main thing at that point was that it had gained parliamentary approval. That was important as it gives compulsory purchase orders so we didn’t have to go through that. The land had been purchased already.”

Wark speaks of the main challenges. He says: “The main challenges have been the mining mediation. We had to go under the Edinburgh bypass and also deal with old infrastructure, but we came up with solutions. The environmental challenge was also hard. We had to go through beautiful countryside which is home to badgers, bats and eels that had to be protected and moved.”

He says that he personally has not looked at what will be required to extend the line over the still-closed section to Carlisle, but he suggests that the benefits of political willingness towards railways north of the Border could help. 

“Our job was to deliver as specified. Nobody has really looked forward seriously. I believe there is great interest in this, but let’s realise the benefits of this section first. I am sure there will be people pressure to get it extended, and it would be great to see that happen.”

For Wark himself this was the last major project before he retires. He lives in Perth but is looking forward to travelling on the line his team built, and being able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the region. 

BAM Nuttall Project Director Nissar Mohammed worked on the Stirling to Alloa re-opening too, but this was much bigger he believes. Speaking on September 4, he explains: “We started in 2011 and construction began in 2012. We designed and built it. It was absolutely on time and within budget. Really, it should have taken twice as long. The cost was £12 million a month and it was a short timescale. 

“There were two challenges. One was logistics as there is one main road and the site had to be long and thin because there are sensitive areas with wildlife criteria - there are 92 badger sets. 

“Also the level of intensity was an aspect. But the weather has been kind, thankfully. We had an early contract involvement where we had nine months to work out the best delivery campaign. We had contingency plans in place, in case the weather conditions had been adverse.”

The construction completion date was set for June 14, but Mohammed’s team was able to deliver it a week early. That was achieved through managing the supply chain. “We got support from the national supply chain, and also from the Central Belt.”

Speaking on September 4, Mohammed has a beaming smile. He looks out of the train window and says: “This is probably the fifth time I have travelled along the route, and it feels just as good as the first time. I have been in the industry 28 years and this is my biggest project.

“This will increase choices for people. This could be a lifestyle changer.”

Samantha Smith, Borders Railway Blueprint Programme Manager, Scottish Borders Council believes there is a lot more to come. Speaking on September 4, she said: “The original business case is about socio-economic benefits. It is about new jobs and job opportunities and there were always plans to connect communities.”

Smith says that the new railway has two major benefits. “It connects 100 development sites and shortens journey times.”

She says of the Borders: “It is quite a big region. Berwick is at least an hour away. So you can imagine it is a fast connection via public transport compared to the alternative.

“This was the only mainland region with no connectivity.” Of course, there is still the extension beyond Tweedbank that campaigners are pushing for. Smith highlights that Borders Railway Maximising the Impact: A Blueprint for the Future* says: “We will scope potential further feasibility work around extending the Borders Railway towards Hawick and Carlisle, including turning options at and beyond Tweedbank.” She says of a possible extension: “It will have the same impact as this. The benefits will be the same. We will give it serious consideration.”

Smith explains that the Borders economy is, traditionally, based around high-quality textiles, such as Hawick Cashmer. There are bio-sciences in the region too, and she describes both as “key sectors”. But Smith adds: “We are expecting key industries of Scotland, including food and drink, tourism and the creative industries as well as business and financial sectors, to move here.

“We have just launched a new Borders prospectus that showcases the development opportunities.”

She attributes the fact that 34% of people have had access to higher education down to two factors, that the schools in the region are “excellent” and that residents stay local to the area. Even so, 22,000 people commute to Edinburgh each day, and that is an opportunity for the railway. 

“There is the main A7 road, and it follows the railway. There is also the A68, but that is it. This , is transformational. It should breathe new life into the Borders and it gives new life to the economy.”