Newsletter 58 February 2019 20% Midlothian growth drives latest increase in Borders Railway passenger traffic By Robert Drysdale IN December the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) released its annual analysis of station usage across the UK for 2017-18. Class 50 number 50007, carrying the identity of scrapped classmate 50006 Neptune, stands at the buffers The figures show an overall at Tweedbank with the Waverley Reunion railtour from Birmingham New Street (c) Alwyn Johnston increase in usage of 10% on the Borders Railway as a whole, but Special events mark fifty years with the three Borders stations (Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank) since Waverley Route closure showing only a small increase, A SERIES of events has commemorations was in support of while Midlothian stations have taken place marking the 50th the 50th anniversary ‘rally’ held in shown significant increases anniversary of the closure of Stow Town Hall on the same day. (19.7% on average), particularly the old Waverley Route on 5th Organiser and CBR member Bill Eskbank (23%) and Shawfair January 1969, writes Atholl Jamieson was delighted with the (42%) – although the latter is still Innes. turnout from invitees, doubting if the the least-used station on the line. village had seen as many visitors in Newtongrange is up by 11% and THE first commemoration was in one day! Gorebridge by 17%. London on 18th December, with a reunion of some of the campaigners Lord (David) Steel, MP for the Total entries and exits for the who delivered a petition to 10 region at the time of the closure, year amount to 1.96 million, so Downing Street on that day in 1968. was aboard the last train which was not far short of two million single halted at the level crossing gates journeys per year, excluding those Next up was a railtour from in Newcastleton before the MP passengers who travelled without Birmingham to Tweedbank on intervened and secured the release a ticket. The equivalent figure for 5th January. Titled The Waverley of the late Rev Brydon Maben, who 2016-17 was 1,783,682. Reunion, the special train was hauled by two class 50 locomotives, had led the protest. Read Robert’s report on the at least one of which had worked Lord Steel chaired and opened and line’s recent problems, see p7 over the old line before closure. closed the afternoon meeting, at IN THIS ISSUE Perhaps most fitting of all the which the power-point presentation events, a well-attended community was one of the highlights, showing P2 View from the chair gathering that evening at the a huge range of photographs P3 Committee news site of the old level crossing in including the protest; Rev Maben P4-5 50th Anniversary events Newcastleton recalled the dramatc being led away by police; and Dr Beeching himself, whose report P6 Political forum moment when the last train over the line was held up by demonstrators. recommended closing it and many P7 Borders Railway woes other lines across the country. CBR’s main involvement in the P8 Kenneth Gray tribute continued p5... @BordersRail facebook.com/campaignforbordersrail Follow uscampaignforbordersrail.org on Twitter Like us on Facebook 1 View from the chair Simon Walton argues how the Campaign helps all communities and why everyone in the Borders and beyond needs to be behind the project THE Scottish Borders Tourism has always been that the Campaign where the Borders Railway runs”, Partnership is a wide-ranging is not just about railways and not is proving just as advantageous for association. It has active members just about routes. positive thinking businesses and from Eyemouth to Innerleithen; communities. CBR has always been committed Lauder to Langholm. Tourism, like to economic development and The further we can get the line into most commercial activity in the social sustainability, two benefits the Borders, the better. More and Borders, is a big business made most readily facilitated by railway more communities will be able to up of very many small businesses. reinstatement. To that end, we’ve take up the reins, just like Kelso It’s only through the clout of always made it clear that our aim Races have done, and bring fresh associations that any single voice is to see the former ‘Waverley custom to their doors. Make no can be raised for the good of the Route’ main line reinstated as mistake, we’re closer than ever to community at large. Right from a primary goal. As our study that finishing line - even if I’m no the start, the overall value of the document,“Summary Case for closer to picking a winner on race Borders Railway was not lost on the a new Cross-Border Rail Link”, day. Tourism Partnership. CBR has been explains in detail, reinstating the represented on the management main line is the most achievable group (we have a vacant seat), way to benefit the widest possible New Book and the Partnership has organised cross-section of businesses and New title “Border Union Dream” several industry-wide conferences, communities in the whole of the by CBR member David Spaven devoted to making the most of the Borders. By providing this new tells the story of the 1969-70 bid fantastic opportunities the railway backbone of an integrated transport by the Border Union Railway offers for promoting the Borders. and communications network, Company to re-open the axed The tourism industry was first to there are benefits for every Waverley Route from Edinburgh embrace the collective potential of community. Tourism has already to Carlisle, which captured the the railway. They realised that being grasped that concept, and business imagination of Borders folk and directly on the line was only part of and communities in general are the wider railway world. Many the benefit of having the Borders in following that lead. were left sorely disappointed the spotlight. Tweedbank has acted when the dream crumbled, but As a group, we’ve always like a land cruise terminal, with the story continues to fascinate encouraged communities to many businesses taking advantage rail enthusiasts. With the 50th embrace the possibilities that a of the opportunity to collect new anniversary of Waverley Route new Borders railway will provide. customers at the railheads. Kelso closure on 6th January 2019 It’s always been easiest to make Races “Track to Track” transfer and drawing on newly unearthed that point in places that are now service springs to mind, bringing archive material, it is time to tell served by the Borders Railway, new punters to the friendliest the full story: a heady mix of blue- and will be served by the extension racecourse in Britain. Not that I’ve skies thinking, political jockeying of the line. Increasingly though, backed any winners yet, so it’s just with British Rail, and over- as exemplified by the tourism as well the return fare’s included. optimism, sometimes bordering industry, there are real benefits to on fantasy. The book is illustrated How, though, can the Campaign be gained from taking a positive with many previously unpublished for Borders Rail harness that attitude towards making the railway photographs. enthusiasm, and help promote part of your business and your the Borders as a whole? That’s a community. Being on the line has Available from Stenlake question we’ve asked ourselves obvious advantages, but being Publishing stenlake.co.uk since our very first day. Our answer able to say: “we’re in the Borders, ISBN: 9781840338300 2 campaignforbordersrail.org Treasurer’s Hawick AGM Call for Carlisle report success volunteers By Christopher Norton By Nick Bethune By David Howe, Committee CBR Treasurer CBR Secretary Member based in Carlisle IF I may introduce myself, I was A WELL attended AGM at the WHEN I first joined the Committee, elected as your new treasurer at the High School hall in Hawick on I leafleted the station, tourist AGM in Hawick on 20th October. 20th October 2018 saw the 2019 information centre, Crown & Mitre I have spent much time getting to committee elected (details on p8) Hotel etc and had an article in the know the procedures, the financial and approved the adoption of a new Cumberland News. constitution. commitments that CBR has along Since then, good contacts have with looking at the income side After reports from the Chair, Vice- been made with the Station primarily generated by you the Chair and Secretary, the re-elected Manager and many station staff, members. Chair, Simon Walton, gave a and Virgin are prepared for CBR to Please note that I am Treasurer, powerful address reaffirming the have display material on the station not Membership Officer, as is Campaign’s commitment to the in the form of a banner or similar, mentioned elsewhere in this reinstatement of the route between and we are to be invited to open Newsletter. I look forward to a Tweedbank and Carlisle. days. volunteer coming forward to fulfil A public meeting followed in a Thanks to initiatives by Richard that a vital role. ‘Question Time’ format with a Carlile, publicity stalls have Following on from the decision distinguished panel of guest been held at The Holm Show, of your committee to introduce speakers hosted by Simon Walton. Netherby Hall Christmas Market independent auditing of CBR’s and Longtown Fair, with some accounts, I have recommended, memberships sold and much and the committee has accepted interest shown. Some locals do that our year end should change not know of us at all and this will from 30th September to 30th hopefully be remedied. June each year. This will give Lately I have chatted to both sufficient time for the accounts the Deputy CEO and the new to be examined and issued to Destinations Officer of Carlisle all members before the AGM in City Council.