The electrification of the Borders railway is starting to take shape, as engineers begin installing the steel masts that will support the overhead wires needed for new battery-electric trains.
It’s part of a £26.2 million Scottish Government investment to electrify 13km of the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank ahead of the arrival of battery-electric trains in the early 2030s. These new fleets will help to deliver more sustainable, reliable and comfortable journeys for passengers.
While the most noticeable parts of the project are only now appearing along the line, much of the preparation for electrification was completed before the railway reopened in 2015. Bridges, stations and other infrastructure were designed with future electrification in mind, reducing the need for major reconstruction work today.
Since work began in March, teams have focused on installing the foundations for 350 new overhead line structures. With around half now complete, work is moving on to erecting the steel masts and support arms which people will see between Tweedbank and Bowshank Tunnel near Stow.
Most of the work is taking place overnight and at weekends to minimise disruption for passengers. Once all structures are in place, attention will turn to installing the wiring, testing the new equipment and final preparations for the introduction of battery-electric trains.
Lynsey Maclean, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “This is an exciting stage of the project because people can now start to see the railway changing. A huge amount of work has gone into planning and building the foundations, much of it behind the scenes, so seeing these new structures appear is a real achievement.
“What makes this project unique is that many of the decisions needed for electrification were taken when the railway was rebuilt more than a decade ago. That means we’re able to deliver this significant upgrade with far less disruption than would otherwise have been needed.
“We know the Borders Railway plays an important role in communities across the region. We’re making good progress in this next phase, and I’d like to thank passengers and our neighbours for their patience and understanding as work continues over the coming months.”
The project milestone was marked with a visit last week by MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale, Calum Kerr, who added:
“It was fantastic to see the progress being made on the Borders Railway electrification project and to meet the team delivering this important investment. The Borders Railway has already transformed connectivity for communities across the region, and these improvements will help make rail travel even more sustainable and reliable. I will continue to support efforts to extend the Borders Railway so that the whole region can benefit from the economic and social opportunities that improved rail links can bring.”
Image credit: Network Rail
