46 years and 8 months to the day since the ‘Waverley Route’ closed, (January 6 1969) scheduled services are set to begin on the new Borders Railway.
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A ‘golden ticket’ service will run tomorrow between Tweedbank and Waverley Station with 400 selected ‘worthy individuals’ chosen by a panel made up from Council officials, councillors and media partners.
The actual service begins the next day Sunday 6th September.
Infrastructure Secretary, Keith Brown MSP said:“It’s been a lifetime in the making for many people in the Borders and Midlothian, and there can be few projects which have generated the levels of excitement and anticipation we have seen around the opening of the Borders Railway.
“We are now embarking on a festival of celebrations befitting of such a monumental achievement, and I am incredibly proud to have been involved.
“That a scheme of this magnitude – the longest domestic railway built in the UK in over a century – has been delivered on time and on budget is testament to those who have worked on it, who can now look with a great deal of pride on the growth this railway will deliver for the communities it serves, as well as the Scottish economy as a whole.
“As of this weekend, there are so many more possibilities for people in the Borders and Midlothian – access to new work, learning and social opportunities, as well as new business and industry links. The Borders Railway has become a symbol of this golden age for Scotland’s railways, and it will be the vehicle for a new prosperity for the communities on the route.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said: “The golden age of rail has definitely returned to Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders! The start of services on the Borders Railway is a truly historic moment for Scotland, the UK and the world, bringing to back to life these regions that played such an integral role in the forming of many of Scotland’s now global industries.
“Born in the Scottish Borders myself, and with family heavily involved in the textile industry, the commencement of services on this Railway is of particular poignancy to me. I have no doubt that the Borders Railway will be a success, not only as a tourism destination, but also as a catalyst for growth, investment and business.
“From rolling hills to babbling streams, mining landscapes to historic abbeys, chapels, castles and treasures, VisitScotland is embarking on a national and international marketing and PR campaign to encourage visitors to experience all the Borders Railway has to offer and we cannot wait to show the world.”
Primary 7 pupils from Langlee Primary in Galashiels, Lacey Harris, Colby Wylie and Keira Vincentini, who all took part in a Golden Ticket competition pose for a picture at Tweedbank railway station in the Scottish Borders.
The Borders Railway will run along part of the old Waverley line and connect Edinburgh’s Waverley station with Tweedbank. It is about to open to the public and will be the first domestic railway to open in Britain in more than 100 years, marking a huge opportunity for VisitScotland Scottish tourism. Photo courtesy of VisitScotland
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.
