Waverley Line

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The Waverley Route is an abandoned double-track railway line that ran south from Edinburgh in Scotland through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders to Carlisle in England. It was built by the North British Railway Company; the first section, from Edinburgh to Hawick opened in 1849. The final section, Carlisle to Hawick, opened in 1862. It was named the Waverley route after the novel by Sir Walter Scott.

The line was closed in 1969 by the infamous Beeching Axe.

[edit] Line restoration

In June 2006, the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament by 114 votes to 1. It will open the line as far as Tweedbank, just south of the burgh of Galashiels. The bill was given the Royal Assent in July 2006. ^[1]

£115 million has been allocated for the proposed route and services, which will extend an existing Edinburgh suburban service ^[2] from Newcraighall to Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.

The restoration of the line has not been universally welcomed, with opponents challenging the both the need for a rail link and the cost of restoring it. ^[3]

[edit] External links

• Waverley Railway Project
• Waverley Route Heritage Association

[edit] References and notes

1. ^ Borders railway link bill passed
2. ^ Not to be confused with the former Edinburgh "suburban line".
3. ^ Protesters set sights on Holyrood