Cross Border Railway £10million Feasibility Study Due To Get ‘Underway Imminently’
Thw title of this post, is the same as that of this article on ITV.
These three paragraphs introduce the article.
A £10million feasibility study into expanding the Borders Railway to Carlisle is due to get “underway imminently”.
Penrith and the Border MP Dr Neil Hudson discussed the plans at Parliament with Scotland Minister, John Lamont.
There have been calls for the service to be extended past Tweedbank to Carlisle taking in towns and villages including Longtown, Hawick and St Boswells.
This finally looks like a serious move by the Government.
But then there’s an election coming!
The Anonymous Widower 
And it’s Scotland. Don’t expect any such enthusiasm for reopenings passing through ‘safe’ seats in England! Of course, this extension of the Borders Railway should be the subject of serious study. But so should many others, and realists understand that many worthy schemes stand little chance of progressing in the current chilly financial climate because they offer no potential political advantage to the Powers That Be.
Comment by Stephen Spark | April 3, 2023 |
The Borders Railway planning is also needed early, as it could affect High Speed Two!
Consider.
1. The Borders Railway and the West Coast Main Line will split about fifty miles or so North of Carlisle.
2. The West Coast Main Line will also carry High Speed Two trains, with High Speed Two and the current Glasgow services running at 140 mph between Carlisle and Glasgow.
3. There will also be slower freight trains.
4. There is an argument to four-track the first fifty miles or so in Scotland; two tracks for the expresses and two for freight and the Borders railway. But for how far?
5. High Speed Two may bypass Carlisle to save time.
It is therefor important to make sure the the Borders Railway is well-defined early so High Speed Two doesn’t ruin it.
Comment by AnonW | April 3, 2023 |