A LOBBY group is demanding that rail bosses deliver the best possible experience for train passengers.

Representatives from the Campaign for Borders Rail met with train operator ScotRail last week.

And they asked that all the stops are pulled out to ensure that travellers get the best possible experience in the first weeks of the Borders Railway. The campaigners met Phil Verster, managing director of the ScotRail/Network Rail Alliance, to press the case for extra coaches to be added for several weeks after trains begin running on Sunday.

And they also pushed for additional staff to be deployed on station platforms to help out passengers who are unfamiliar with rail travel.

CBR’s Scottish Parliamentary Officer, Allan McLean, told the Border Telegraph: “There is unprecedented national and international interest in travelling on what will be the longest railway to open in Scotland since 1901, and we’re pleased that Phil Verster took close note of our intelligence on potential levels of demand from not just people in the Borders, Midlothian and Edinburgh, but also rail enthusiasts and supporters from very much further afield. The first public trains run on Sunday, when the standard service is hourly, rather than the half-hourly frequency on Mondays to Fridays – but there will be literally thousands of people queuing up to travel, so it’s vital that as many as possible get a seat on what will be highly popular trains. Many trains in the first few weeks will need to be strengthened beyond the typical two-coach capacity.” This weekend’s opening isn’t the end of the line for the CBR group as they will now push for the line to be extended all the way to Carlisle.

But their attentions in the run-up to this weekend’s opening is the attention to detail required to give visitors and locals a positive experience on the platform.

Mr McLean added: “It’s very encouraging that Scottish Borders Council are deploying ambassadors at stations – which will normally be unstaffed – for the first few weeks, but this needs to be supported by the presence of rail staff who can provide expert advice about all aspects of rail travel.

“First impressions will be critical for folk who are new to rail, so the rail industry really has to get this right in terms of clear guidance on train travel, enough seats for comfortable journeys, and of course the reliability of the service.”