Borders Railway project

The Borders Railway project aims to re-establish passenger railway services from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders. 

The project includes:

• 35 miles (49km) of new passenger railway 
• seven new stations 
• journey time between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank of 55 minutes (or less) 
• seven day service, half hourly service at peak times  
• roughly 50 per cent double track.

Benefits the Borders Railway will bring to the Scottish Borders includes:

• linking the Scottish Borders to Midlothian, central Scotland and main line rail services for the first time in over 40 years
• providing new rail stations at Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank
• assisting with the potential for economic growth and inward investment open up new educational, leisure and commuting opportunities
• encouraging an increase in tourism
• offering another form of transport to the car.

Scottish Borders residents also will benefit from:

• direct trains to Waverley station with no change required 
• the full range of National Rail tickets including season tickets, railcards, discounted and concessionary fares 
• fully accessible trains that will carry pushchairs and bicycles.

Building the Borders Railway

In March 2010, the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 was triggered when the then Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP 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 constructed.

Transport Scotland has commissioned us 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.

In June 2010 Transport Scotland invited three consortia to tender for the Borders Railway Design Build Finance and Maintain contract and is currently going through a Competitive Dialogue phase before awarding contract.
Construction of the railway is estimated to commence with the awarding of the contract in winter 2011 for completion in 2014.

Approximate time-scale for the Borders Railway

• Summer 2010 - Competitive Dialogue commenced.
• Winter 2011 - construction of railway line begins.
• 2014 - construction complete/ trains running.

Funding the Borders Railway

The Borders Railway project has been estimated to cost between £235- £295 million at 2012 prices. A not-for-profit distributing model is being used for this project.

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

Black Path

The Black Path in Galashiels and Tweedbank is currently used as a footpath and cycleway and where suitable will be kept as such. Some parts of the Black Path however will be required for the rail line. Following consultation with Sustrans and others, all paths lost to the railway will be replaced with similar facilities.