Borders Rail Link / Under Construction

[AshAshAsh]

Thought it deserved it's own thread, being such a big high-profile project.

Key Points:

* Preliminary work (moving utilities etc) has started as of March 2010

* Major construction is due to start in Autumn 2011

* Line should open in 2014

* Total cost is estimated at £230m - £295m (2012 prices)

* 35 miles of track, extending the current branch line to Newcraighall in Edinburgh's suburbs to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders

* 7 New Stations (Tweedbank, Galashiels, Stow, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, Eskbank, Shawfair)

* 55 Minute travel time from Tweedbank to Waverley

* Trains every 30 mins on peak, every hour off peak

* Forecast for more than 8,000 homes to be built along the route as a result

Project Website

Route Map (there used to be a good one that was to scale and showed the travel time from each station to Edinburgh, but I can't find it now. Most of the track distance is between Gorebridge & Galashiels which is about 25 miles of the 35 mile total.

[AshAshAsh]

Work Starts

On the day the Scottish Government set out actions being taken to accelerate recovery and transform the long term performance of Scotland’s economy, the most significant milestone yet in the development of the Borders Railway was reached with the official start of works.

The start of those works on the railway – committed to by the Scottish Government to begin within the lifetime of the current Parliament - is one of many programmes of investment in Scotland’s transport infrastructure helping to support Scotland’s economy and boost recovery. The works also trigger the Act to build the railway, which states that once work has begun the Scottish Government must finish it in its entirety from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

Full article


Tenders process begins

Delivery of the Borders Railway moved a step closer today as Transport Scotland announced its intention to invite three organisations consisting of seven of Europe’s biggest construction and financial companies to tender for the contract.

The three organisations that have been invited to participate are:-

BAM (BAM UK Ltd)

IMCD (Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, Iridium Concesiones de Infrastructuras SA, Carillion Construction Ltd)

New Borders Railway (Fluor Limited, Miller Construction (UK) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (Lloyds Banking)

The individual companies include those responsible for some of the biggest rail projects in Europe in recent times, including the High Speed links between Amsterdam and Belgium (Zuid) and Figureas to Perpignan in France, the East Coast Mainline Upgrade, the London Underground Connect Project and Manchester Metrolink.

Full article


Not everyone is supportive

The environmental benefits of one of the Scottish Government’s biggest rail projects have been dramatically overstated by ignoring the impact on housing growth in the Borders, transport experts have claimed.

In a further blow to the £300 million Borders Rail Project, academics and consultants accused officials of conducting a flawed appraisal of its ability to cut greenhouse gases.

The 35-mile route due to be built between Edinburgh and Tweedbank by 2014 is viewed by its backers as an economic lifeline for the Borders, which will help stimulate demand for more than 8000 new homes over the next 20 years.

However, the experts claimed that, although the railway will encourage a shift from road to less polluting rail journeys, the effects of shifting thousands of people out of the capital and into the Borders has not been taken into account.

Full article

[leadensky]

I'm really happy about this project - it is unusually long-termist. Edinburgh is vital to the future of the Scottish economy but lacks the suburban rail network Glasgow has. This is the perfect start to addressing that.

One question though. Why does Galashiels appear as an 'interchange' station. Interchange with what?

[AshAshAsh]

Originally Posted by leadensky

I'm really happy about this project - it is unusually long-termist. Edinburgh is vital to the future of the Scottish economy but lacks the suburban rail network Glasgow has. This is the perfect start to addressing that.

One question though. Why does Galashiels appear as an 'interchange' station. Interchange with what?

The Galashiels station will be next to the bus station & taxi rank and hence is being designated as a public transport interchange. The idea being that you can get the train down from Edi then transfer onto a bus to Melrose or Hawick or wherever. Tweedbank will have the Border's main park & ride facility, and should fulfil a similar same fucntion for motorists.

[Jamandell (d69)]

Bout bloody time! Borders is a joke with its lack of public transport. This will mean I could actually get the train to Gala to say hi to parents rather than have them drive for 2 hours to come see me.

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by Jamandell (d69)

Bout bloody time! Borders is a joke with its lack of public transport. This will mean I could actually get the train to Gala to say hi to parents rather than have them drive for 2 hours to come see me.

Its not just transport, though, is it?

It amazes me just how little investment and regeneration the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway have received. Its a barren wilderness of financial neglect. A couple of hospitals, a halfhearted college, a theatre rebuild with no revenue for staff, a network of co-op shops.... compared with the magnificent regeneration success stories in the H&I and central belt, its an embarrasment.

And its been what, 10 years now since we were moving towards rebuilding this short stretch of, largely single track, modest speed rail line to a dead end.
No intention to electrify it. No intention to link through to Hawick, then through Riccarton jn to either Carlisle or Hexham. No prospect for freight. No prospect of contributing to the upgrading of the UK rail network by adding alternative / diversionary routes.

One of the fine successes of the Highlands regeneration is "the Tesco Train", Stobart's low profile containers carrying rail freight which takes 40+ trucks each day off the A9. But what comparable movement of goods will this pseudo Waverley Line rebuild provide?
None.

Yes, its taking too long.
Its under specified.
It doesn't connect at both ends.
It leaves the Borders neglected, under resourced, lacking in necessary infrastructure.
Its designed to fail.
(or if that's too sensationalist, it is clearly not designed to achieve the range of positive outcomes which strategic public investment can and should strive to deliver)

[leadensky]

Originally Posted by DXNewcastle

Its not just transport, though, is it?

It amazes me just how little investment and regeneration the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway have received. Its a barren wilderness of financial neglect. A couple of hospitals, a halfhearted college, a theatre rebuild with no revenue for staff, a network of co-op shops.... compared with the magnificent regeneration success stories in the H&I and central belt, its an embarrasment.

And its been what, 10 years now since we were moving towards rebuilding this short stretch of, largely single track, modest speed rail line to a dead end.
No intention to electrify it. No intention to link through to Hawick, then through Riccarton jn to either Carlisle or Hexham. No prospect for freight. No prospect of contributing to the upgrading of the UK rail network by adding alternative / diversionary routes.

One of the fine successes of the Highlands regeneration is "the Tesco Train", Stobart's low profile containers carrying rail freight which takes 40+ trucks each day off the A9. But what comparable movement of goods will this pseudo Waverley Line rebuild provide?
None.

Yes, its taking too long.
Its under specified.
It doesn't connect at both ends.
It leaves the Borders neglected, under resourced, lacking in necessary infrastructure.
Its designed to fail.
(or if that's too sensationalist, it is clearly not designed to achieve the range of positive outcomes which strategic public investment can and should strive to deliver)

Your right, the Borders have long been neglected. But is the demand there to justify a double track electrified line? At the moment, I don't think so.

I'm sure the Transport Minister was quoted as saying, extending all the way to Carlisle is a long-term aspiration. There has to be a first step and this is it! The only way to fulfil these longer-term plans is for the initial scheme to be well-used and bring investment to the Borders.

[AshAshAsh]

"Was fairly popular in the skateboarding scene" - Well I'm convinced, I'll take buy 100.

Anyways, some news - it would seem there are some problems with the Tweedbank station - underground power cables have been found and the local paper reports that this might to lead to cost overruns or the station being moved.

From The Borders Telegraph

RAIL chiefs have admitted building a new train station in Tweedbank could cost "millions of pounds" more than originally expected.

However, they have denied that it will impact on the overall cost of the Borders rail project which is estimated at between £235million and £295million.

It followed the discovery of underground power cables at the site of the proposed terminus.

Last month, we revealed Transport Scotland - the national agency in charge of overseeing the rebuilding of a 35-mile section of the former line between Edinburgh and the Borders - was consulting on plans to move the station closer to Galashiels.

The full article is very long, and comes across as a bit rambling...I'm not sure how much stock I would place with it.

I would assume there would some sort of contingency for this sort of situation, a problem like this must be almost inevitable on a project this big.

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by AshAshAsh

I would assume there would some sort of contingency for this sort of situation, a problem like this must be almost inevitable on a project this big.

Yes, you're quite right.
I don't have the budget for the project, but in general there will always be a contingency for unseen infrastructure, geology, land acquisition issues, approvals (eg Environment Agency) etc.

I can't help thinking that the whole project has been so lacking in newsworthy announcements that almost any trivia is news. (Hasn't that been the same for the new Ardrie-Bathgate line - lost achieved and nearly complete but still not publicised to it full potential?).

I think there will be lots more hiccups before this one's completed - somehow I think its going to be a long long time. (Just compare it with the indecent speed in which competing rail companies built their lines back in the 1800's!)

[John07]

Originally Posted by AshAshAsh

The full article is very long, and comes across as a bit rambling...I'm not sure how much stock I would place with it.

I would assume there would some sort of contingency for this sort of situation, a problem like this must be almost inevitable on a project this big.

At this stage of the project, there could also be a 44% addition for optimism bias.

[bestbud]

Looks like the private sector isn't interested in the project. Will it really be done by 2014?

Borders rail link tender process scrapped


The Scottish government has scrapped its plan to get a private company to build the new Borders railway, because of a lack of interest.

Transport minister Keith Brown said the £295m project would now be taken forward with Network Rail.

The move comes after several consortia dropped out of the competition, for commercial reasons.

Ministers insisted the 35-mile line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank is still on course to open in December 2014.

Agency Transport Scotland will now work in partnership with Network Rail, which will be responsible for sub-contracting work to experienced firms.

BBC

[The Boy David]

Originally Posted by bestbud

Will it really be done by 2014?

Try 2114.

[Chris99]

Originally Posted by The Boy David

Try 2114.

I feel more optimistic about this project now that Network Rail are building it. They did a good job delivering the Airdrie to Bathgate line and financing shouldn't be a problem as NR can use their borrowing powers. 2015 at the latest I'd say.

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by The Boy David

Try 2114.

I'm relieved Network Rail are doing this. It'll happen and soon.

[alonzo-ny]

The airdrie-bathgate link was executed very well I would say.

[The Boy David]

It was extremely well executed.

But support for the borders rail link, outside of the limited catchment area that it will serve, is very low. There's a reason none of the private contracters would touch this.

Airdrie to Bathgate was a no brainer, this is financial deadwater waiting to happen.

[bestbud]

Originally Posted by The Boy David

There's a reason none of the private contractors would touch this.

Indeed there is and I'm not surprised in the slightest.

It's also a bit of a kick in the stones for th new model of PFI.

I'll reserve judgment on the involvement of Network Rail until we find out the funding details etc. What is quite ironic is that Network Rail expressed a willingness to take on the GARL project using the exact same mechanism used here, but that was shot down by the very people who are now handing them Borders Rail. It's a funny world......

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by Chris99

I feel more optimistic about this project now that Network Rail are building it.

. . . financing shouldn't be a problem as NR can use their borrowing powers. 2015 at the latest I'd say.

I share some of your optomism (and certainly your hope!).
But NR's biggest outgoing is its financing costs - most of which it 'inherited'. All the criticism NR receives whenever its lowest standard of sub-contracting is disclosed is usually uninformed - the Company can't be blamed for trying to reduce its crippling on-going finance costs. We should be grateful that it hasn't sold off more of its real estate already!

[Chris99]

Originally Posted by DXNewcastle

I share some of your optomism (and certainly your hope!).
But NR's biggest outgoing is its financing costs - most of which it 'inherited'. All the criticism NR receives whenever its lowest standard of sub-contracting is disclosed is usually uninformed - the Company can't be blamed for trying to reduce its crippling on-going finance costs. We should be grateful that it hasn't sold off more of its real estate already!

Altough NR will be financing the project the Scottish Govt will be funding it so it shouldn't be detrimental to Network Rail's cash-flow.

[bestbud]

Originally Posted by Chris99

Altough NR will be financing the project the Scottish Govt will be funding it so it shouldn't be detrimental to Network Rail's cash-flow.

There is a risk involved for NR though. As well as taking any potential profits from this project, NR could also make a loss, just as any private sector consortium could. Though, I suspect that contracts will be considerably different.

Commercial reasons dictated that private sector parties didn't want to de involved at the top tier. What does that say about the calculation of measuring potential profits against risks?

What is interesting is that the new CEO of NR, David Higgins, recently made noises about its "major projects division" becoming more efficient and profitable, by bidding for outside work, even overseas. Borders Rail fits into that category perfectly, so there's no surprise NR are becoming more involved. I like his chat, but it'll only work if they find the right personnel.