Unfair criticism detracts from undoubted success of the Borders Railway

The reopening of the Borders Railway has been an undoubted success, delivered on time and to budget, exceeding passenger forecasts and providing significant economic benefits to the communities along the route.

However, as we celebrate the first anniversary of the line, I was disappointed to see an article in Monday’s edition of The Scotsman focusing on a few negatives rather than the many positives the railway has brought to the region.

The Scottish Government funded and Network Rail built a railway which the communities in the Borders and Midlothian had waited almost half a century for. The frequency of service of four trains per hour, two in each direction, running six days a week and with an hourly service on a Sunday, is proving to be a convenient and, despite the recent cluster of poor performance, reliable and sustainable alternative to travelling by road.

I am conscious that recent performance has fallen well below the standards expected by passengers, which is why measures have been put in place to improve performance by the Scotrail Alliance and passengers should see an improved service in the future. Transport Scotland hold the Scotrail franchise to high standards and the contract includes incentives and penalties on the franchisee to ensure that cancellations and delays are minimised.

The Borders Railway Business Case clearly demonstrates the difficulties when estimating the patronage on a new line, particularly when Borders Railway is the longest new domestic railway to be built in over a century.

Transport Scotland has the forecasting methodology, including that for Borders, under review to ensure lessons are learned. However, it is worth pointing out that the Borders Railway is held up by many outside Scotland as a leading example of a rail project funded not only on passenger benefits, but the wider economic and social benefits the scheme brings.

On that, Transport Scotland is working closely with partners in the Borders Railway Blueprint Group to ensure that its full potential is realised by providing opportunities all along the line for both existing and new businesses, including tourism. This will take more than one year to achieve but early signs are very positive.

Happy birthday Borders Railway!

AIDAN GRISEWOOD Director of Rail Transport Scotland