MP 'devoted' to reopening of rail line

Published 24 Jul 2010 13:14 0 Comments

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LOCAL MP and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore on Sunday boarded a train on the former Waverley Route and again pledged his support for the re-opening of the whole route from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Mr Moore was opening the Waverley Route Heritage Association's new centre at Whitrope, south of Hawick, where he climbed into the cabin of a Hunslet diesel, which formerly worked at Hartlepool nuclear station.

"At a time when the Government is planning speed rail links between England and Scotland, I am devoted to the re-opening of this very important line," he said.

He was joined by veteran Hawick rail campaigner, Madge Elliot, who had fought to prevent the closure in 1969.

But the train was going nowhere following the closure of the track in 1969 - and Madge, who had raised the petition 41 years ago to save the line, had to make the rest of her journey to Carlisle by road.

Mr Moore stood aside from the spat between fellow Lib-Dem MSP Jeremy Purves and Tory John Lamont and told over 200 people: "I am totally devoted to the line. I strongly believe in this project and I want the railway to go all the way (between Edinburgh and Carlisle).

"This is an amazing development and even the tea is better on the railway! Years of labour and hard slog have been put into this and it is like a dream come true.

"We need to take the railway in context. Let's get to Tweedbank first and then to Hawick and Carlisle. The development here is about keeping the public interest alive and we need to maintain that."

Madge added: "It's great to be back. This is only the beginning and I hope that it will be part of a dream just like the infectious enthusiasm of the volunteers, who have made it possible."

And Dougie Squance, from Selkirk, a signalling engineer in 1969, said: "We started on the Monday to take the signalling out. It was a very sad day, indeed."

However, this day belonged to the Association, in conjunction with Scottish Borders Council and the Forestry Commission, which plan to develop the site as a major tourist attraction.

Chairman Ian Crooks, from Hawick, unveiled ongoing, ambitious plans to take

the railway forward linked into the 7 Stanes Project, and which, like the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, for example, will blossom into a major tourist attraction.

Plans include the developing of the site with walks and, initially, a track to Riccarton Junction and the formation of a railway company. And it is known that operator EWS could move timber from the Kielder Forest on to rail. That is for the future.

"Our immediate plans are to focus on the heritage site. But let's make sure the line comes to Tweedbank and then look at getting it from Hawick to here," said Crooks.

The centre, based in one of two coaches, at the platform, drew crowds to view line memorabilia from books to photographs, newspapers to tea, coffee and cakes.

"This is the first time that I have been here, although I have passed in the car. Now I will need to bring the family," added Moore.

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