Extend The Borders Railway From Tweedbank To Carlisle

Please consider these points

1) Any train journey from Carlisle to Edinburgh would be quicker than any bus journey.

2) Trains will improve accessibility in the Borders, link communities to key markets through strategic transport routes such as the Waverley Route or Borders Line.

3)This extension will improve access from the Scottish Borders to key markets in to Edinburgh, Carlisle and Newcastle.

4) The track bed should not be another A66 or other road, it should be a reinstated version of a remodelled Waverley Route.

5) Consideration for potential rail freight on this route: Rail freight has soared by 60% over the last ten years and one freight train can carry up to or over the equivalent of 50 heavy-goods vehicles, which is great for the environment.

6) Extending the Borders Railway could have a huge effect on the region, improving transport links to major markets and boosting the economy.

7) Corbyn's re-nationalisation policy will threaten the re-instatement of the Waverley or Borders Route, because after the railways have been re-nationalised their will be less money and projects will take longer due to bureaucracy - relating to a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials - over-concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense.

8) This remains a region which is all too often left behind.

9) First slated for the axe in 1963 by British Railways' infamous Chairman, Dr Richard Beeching, the closure of the Waverley Route from Edinburgh through the Borders to Carlisle ranks as the worst rail cut in British history, with Galashiels and Hawick left further from a railway station than any other towns of their size in Britain. Now Gala has re-joined the rail network, with a key aim being able to seek restoration of passenger and freight rail services along the entire 98-mile length of the Waverley Route, re-connecting the communities cut off in 1969.

10) Why extend to Hawick & Carlisle? Hawick is the Borders town which has suffered most from the loss of the old Waverley Route in 1969. And to meet its full potential, the Borders also needs a direct rail link to the South. The key benefits of southwards extension would be:

a) Better social inclusion, economic regeneration and tourism opportunities;
b) An attractive alternative to the car – faster, safer and greener travel for the future;
c) sustainable freight transport for timber from Kielder and the Borders forests – getting logs lorries off the roads - one freight train can carry the equivalent of 50 lorries or over;
d) a strategic diversionary route, relieving pressure on the busy West Coast Main Line;

11) Can it really be done? Yes! The ambition enjoys support from politicians at the highest levels of government, from Borders Chamber of Commerce – and Scottish Borders, Carlisle and Cumbria councils and high-level planning policies are in place to protect the disused track bed from further redevelopment;

12) What needs to happen next? These key issues need to be overcome:

a) A through route to Carlisle to be the ultimate objective with maximum journey time targets of Edinburgh to Galashiels in 50 minutes; Hawick in 70 minutes; Carlisle in 115 minutes and once electrified these timings would be slashed even further;
b) Re-examine the case for timber by rail from Kielder and the southern Borders - remember one log freight train can carry the equivalent of about 50 heavy goods road vehicles and a train is less carbon;
c) Examine the case for other types of freight to and from the Central Borders;
d) Examine the value to the wider rail network of a diversionary route
provide a robust infrastructure specification and sensible future-proofing for upgrades;
e) Recommend any further planning safeguards needed to protect the railway line of route;
f) An early engineering study of the best means of negotiating the Melrose bypass incursion on to the original track bed of the railway - the road could be built on top of the railway or vice versa;

Please consider this carefully.