As the opening of the new Borders Railway draws ever closer, ScotRail has shared more details about its plans for the opening events.
The first services on Sunday 6 September will run with additional carriages, but will still be very busy. The first northbound service departs Tweedbank at 08:45, and the first southbound train from Edinburgh leaves at 09:11, with an hourly service in each direction until around 23:00.
Tickets for travel on Borders trains cannot be reserved for a particular service, so queuing systems will be in place at busier stations. ScotRail is encouraging people to buy their tickets in advance online or by telephone – although they can be bought on the day as well. Passengers who can travel later in the day on 6 September will face shorter queues.
ScotRail has also stressed that space will be kept on trains departing Edinburgh and Tweedbank to allow room for customers boarding at intermediate stations.
On Wednesday 9 September, the Borders Railway will be officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen.
Local communities will play an important role in this exciting event and Newtongrange and Tweedbank car parks will be used as spectator areas during the celebrations.
Both car parks will close at 00:01 on Tuesday 8 September and will reopen at 21:00 on Wednesday 9 September – or earlier if possible. All customers are asked to remove their vehicles from both locations before the closure.
A ScotRail spokeswoman said: “Excitement is growing and we are doing all we can to help people enjoy the occasion. We’ve put a few measures in place to achieve this and we would like to thank everyone in advance for their understanding.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
