The Anonymous Widower

‘Encouraging signs’ on Borders Railway Extension to Carlisle

The title of this post is the title of an article on the BBC. This is said.

An MP has said there are “encouraging signs” that the “fantastic vision” of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle could be realised.

Calum Kerr made the claim in a piece written for the Campaign for Borders Rail newsletter.

This is original article on the Borders Railway! This is said.

The good news is that there are encouraging signs we may be able to win cross party support on this. For instance, I’ve spoken to my neighbouring MP David Mundell, who is the Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK Government. He’s broadly supportive and is planning to speak to the Department of Transport in London to gauge its views.

I’ve also been in discussion with MPs on the English side of the border. They’re also warming to the idea. In particular, I’ve had several discussions with Rory Stewart, who represents the seat of Penrith and the Border, and he’s keen on getting it onto the agenda.

I think the involvement of Rory Stewart is significant. I remember him from one of his excellent documentaries called Border Country: The Story of Britain’s Lost Middleland, which was a fascinating history of the lands both sides of the England-Scotland border.

When I wrote If Manchester Victoria And Birmingham New Street Were The First Two Courses, Is Carlisle The Third?, I wrote this.

I just wonder, if whilst they are rebuilding the platforms, they will electrify some of the bay platforms. Or at least do the preparation work!

This would enable IPEMUs to be able to be recharged, if they were serving routes out of Carlisle, like the Tyne Valley Line, Settle to Carlisle and possibly an extended Borders Railway.

Incidentally, I think that by the time Carlisle station is updated in 2019, IPEMUs or battery trains, would have enough range to reach Edinburgh. You can see the headlines in the Sun!

After reading Calum Kerr’s thoughts, I feel even more that Network Rail have a cunning plan to make Carlisle station a hub for IPEMUs, which would serve the following routes.

• The Borders Railway to Edinburgh
• The Glasgow And South Western Railway to Glasgow
• The Tyne Valley Line to Newcastle
• The Settle-Carlisle Line to Leeds
• The Cumbrian Cost Line to Barrow and Lancaster

Note the following.

• The only major infrastructure work would be the completion of the Borders Railway to Carlisle.
• The area is noted for its superb scenery and occasional extreme weather. Not electrifying large sections of remote and exposed rural lines, is an attractive option, in terms of planning, engineering, building and maintenance.
• Technology exists to do all signalling by radio links.
• The last two lines would probably need some limited electrification to charge the trains en route.
• The Cumbrian Coast Line could be electrified between Sellafield and Barrow, where the line is better protected.
• The infrastructure needs of a four-car IPEMU train, is similar to that of a four-car diesel multiple unit.
• The Glasgow and South Western and Tyne Valley Lines could probably accept IPEMUs tomorrow.
• The network has several connections to the major Anglo-Scottish routes, at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Preston.

It would be one of the most scenic set of railway routes in the world!

I won’t comment on the commercial, social and tourism aspects of creating such a railway system.

December 17, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Borders Railway, IPEMU, Scotland