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Tweedbank.co.uk                                              Railway Update
Return of the Waverley line
 
Published:  March 21, 2005

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen gets on track on the Waverley Line  in Galashiels.

Rail campaigners were jubilant yesterday when the Scottish Executive finally confirmed the worst kept secret in the Borders by financially backing the return of the Waverley line.

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen announced that it would underwrite the bulk of the £150 million costs to restore the historic rail route between Edinburgh and the central Borders subject to certain conditions.

His statement to a committee of MSPs in Galashiels discussing the merits of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill was greeted with applause by members of the public.

But he warned it was “not an open-ended commitment” and he expected the Waverley promoters to deliver on time and within budget.

The Waverley line, which has still to be approved by the Scottish Parliament, is expected to be running trains from Edinburgh to Tweedbank near Galashiels by 2008.

Thirty six years after the line was ripped out during the Beeching cuts, Mr Stephen confirmed days of media speculation by announcing it would be contributing £115 million based on 2002 prices.

That was when the project was expected to cost £129 million and the Minister confirmed their contribution — which is estimated will be 85 per cent — would be index linked.

He added they would also be funding a £4 million shortfall which was no longer being provided by the Strategic Rail Authority.

The project is also to be funded by the construction of 10,000 houses in Midlothian and the Borders.

Giving evidence to the Committee Mr Stephen said: “I am here to confirm the Executive support for the Borders railway.

“For the first time we are able to agree in principle the full funding which has been set out.

“It is good not only for the Borders and Midlothian but for Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland.

“It will result in faster journey times, greater accessibility for passengers with disability, good for employment and transport benefits.”

But he stressed the funding was subject to the promoters, Scottish Borders Council, meeting the conditions set out in their business case.

Mr Stephen said the promoters‚ assumptions must remain to be robust and deliver what they are predicting to deliver.

He pointed out they had to stick to the costs and timescale that had been outlined in the business case.

But he added: “We want the promoters to remain in budget and the conditions I have attached and I believe they are deliverable.”

Mr Stephen denied there had been a Cabinet split with the Labour/Lib Dem coalition in giving the Waverley scheme the green light when other transport projects could represent better value for money.

Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker said the conditions were what they anticipated and would have no difficult in meeting them. “It is obviously fantastic news.

“The fact the Minister confirmed that included the additional £4 million which the Strategic Rail Authority were no longer contributing is also a bonus.

“He has made it clear that this will be index linked and will consider all reasonable increases in costs.

“It is a positive announcement and great news for the Borders. “We have been working on this for six long years and things are well on track now.

“I am certain the trains will be running in 2008 to Tweedbank.”

Waverley Railway Partnership chairman Jim Dunsmuir added: “This is a truly exceptional day for the people of the Scottish Borders, Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh.

“The positive announcement on funding is the result of intense campaigning, planning and consulting by many people over many years with the ultimate goal of bringing passenger rail services back to Midlothian and the Borders.

“Our aim now is to ensure that the Bill secures a safe passage through Parliament with a view to Royal Assent being granted next year and the first trains running from 2008.

“The announcement also allows us to actively progress negotiations with those residents and landowners who are directly affected by the plans for the new rail line.”

The Waverley line will mean six new stations at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge in Midlothian and Galashiels and Tweedbank in the Borders.

The Waverley Railway(Scotland) Bill Commiteee convener Tricia Marwick expressed her disappointment that news of the funding had been leaked before Mr Stephen‚s appearance yesterday

  

  • Increased access to jobs across Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Borders by 2015.
  • £285m injection into the three regions over the next 30 years, rising to £305m based on additional new housing directly due to the new rail line.
  • 550 sustainable full time jobs within 5 years of completion of the line
  • 360 full time jobs for up to 5 years linked to the construction of houses attributable to the new rail line
  • Encouraging further economic development, increased business development opportunities, inward investment and public sector relocation.

Transport

  • The new line will serve a population base of close to 200,000 people in Midlothian and the Borders who currently have no direct access to a railway line.
  • Reducing reliance on the car, in turn helping to reduce congestion and accidents on the A7 and A68. At present 19,500 commute to Edinburgh by car from Midlothian and 12,500 from the Scottish Borders.

Viewpoint: Galabank, looking south
Artist Impression. Viewpoint: Galabank, looking south

Howse and Social

  • More than £130m investment in housing in the Borders and Midlothian
  • Providing realistic housing opportunities for people living and working in the regions - 700 extra houses will be built in Midlothian and 1,100 in the Scottish Borders as a direct result of the new rail line.
  • Further new developments will also benefit from the rail link such as new communities proposed for Shawfair in Midlothian (3,500 homes) and south of the terminus at Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.
  • Making local communities more socially inclusive, by retaining young and attracting new people of all ages to work and live in the areas around the line.

Environmental

  • Cutting car journeys by more than 750,000 per year and reducing vehicle pollutants into the environment by less congestion and traffic
  • Providing a safe alternative to the car
  • Relieving pressure on the Green Belt area of Edinburgh.

Tourism

  • Acting as a catalyst for increased tourism in Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders.