Borders Railway Project

The Borders Railway Project aims to rebuild passenger train services from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.

The Project includes:

• 35 miles (49km) of new passenger railway
• 7 new train stations
• Journey time between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank of 55minutes (or less)
• 7 day service, half hourly at peak times

Benefits the Borders Railway will bring to Midlothian

• It will link Midlothian to Central Scotland, the Scottish Borders and main line rail services for the first time in over 40 years
• Provide new train stations at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge
• Assist with the potential for economic growth and inward investment
• Open up new educational, leisure and commuting opportunities
• Encourage an increase in tourism
• Offer an alternative form of transport to the car

In addition Midlothian residents will benefit from:

• Direct trains to Edinburgh Waverley station with no change required
• The full range of National Rail tickets will be available including season tickets, railcards, discounted and concessionary fares
• Fully accessible trains that will carry pushchairs and bicycles

Stations in Midlothian

• Shawfair Station will serve the planned settlement of Shawfair between Danderhall and Millerhill
• Eskbank Station will be between the TESCO Eskbank superstore, Jewel and Esk College, and close to the new Community Hospital
• Newtongrange Station will be just off the A7 north of the Scottish Mining Museum but south of the turn-off to Orchard Grange
• Gorebridge Station will be on Station Road between Main Street and Lady Brae

Building the Borders Railway

In March 2010, the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 was triggered when the then Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP (pictured above) cut 'the first sod' in Galashiels, signalling the beginning of works authorised by the Act.  In line with the Act, once authorised works on the Borders Railway commence then the whole of the railway must be built.

Transport Scotland has commissioned Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to manage the Advance Works programme.  The Advance Works, which have been progressing since March 2010, include bridge and riverbank protection, de-vegetation and advance utility diversions on the path of the old railway line.

Transport Minister Keith Brown announced in September 2011 that the Borders Railway is to be delivered by Network Rail in a new rail industry partnership aimed at achieving best value for money.

Full construction is expected to start in 2012, with a target delivery date of December 2014.  

Funding the Borders Railway

The Borders Railway Project has been estimated to cost between £235 and £295 million (at 2012 prices). 

The City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders Councils will jointly contribute a capped figure of £30m payable over 30 years.

Footpaths and cycle paths

Sections of the former Waverley Route currently used as a footpath and cycle way will be required for the rail line. 

Following consultation with Sustrans, a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport, and others, all paths lost to the railway will be replaced with similar facilities.

Borders Railway history

The Waverley Railway line ran from Edinburgh to Hawick from 1849 and on to Carlisle from 1862.

On 6 January 1969 the route was closed as part of the Beeching Report.

In 1999, the Scottish Executive commissioned a Feasibility Study into the re-opening of the Waverley line between Edinburgh and Carlisle and found that a line to the Central Borders could be justified at this stage. 

In order to get authorisation to rebuild the railway the Waverley Railway Bill was lodged with the Scottish Parliament in 2003 by the Waverley Railway Partnership, which consisted of:

• Scottish Borders Council - Promoter
• Midlothian Council
• City of Edinburgh Council
• supported by Scottish Enterprise Borders

The Bill was given Royal Assent in July 2006 and became the Waverley Railway ( Scotland ) Act 2006.  Scottish Borders Council, as Promoter of the Bill, now undertook the role of Authorised Undertaker charged with delivering the project and started with the land assembly process.

In August 2008 the role of Authorised Undertaker, in agreement with the Waverley Rail Partnership, was successfully transferred to Transport Scotland and the project became known as the Borders Railway Project. 

Scottish Borders Council  kept the role of buying the land identified in the Parliamentary plans needed for the project and continues to manage the land assembly programme.

Transport Scotland has carried out market consultation and testing and in winter 2009 began the procurement process for the contract.

Throughout the process Midlothian Council has played an active role in supporting Transport Scotland as it works towards delivering the project.

• Permanent diversions of footpaths and cycle routes - Midlothian North.
• Permanent diversions of footpaths and cycle routes - Midlothian South.