Rail chiefs deny project costs could rise to £400m

Ally McGilvray • Published 1 Sep 2010 18:58 3 Comments

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new rail line in the Borders could eventually cost the taxpayer £400 million, it has been claimed.

That is £100 million more than even the latest estimates for the project which was initially only due to cost less than half that price.

John Cavaroli, chairman of Tweedbank Community Council, made the statement after plans were unveiled to move the village terminus closer to Galashiels.

It follows the revelation that underground cables at the original site, opposite the junction to the industrial estate, could cost a "significant sum" to move.

However, transport chiefs in charge of the project to rebuild the line between Edinburgh and the Borders have dismissed the figure as "wild speculation".

They confirmed they were consulting on plans to move the terminus in Tweedbank.

However, they insisted the project would still cost between £235 million and £295 million at 2012 prices and remained on track for opening in late 2014.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "We can confirm that a high voltage cable has been found under the site of the proposed station at Tweedbank which would likely pose some constraints on building but the Borders project team are consulting on a potential solution."

And he added: "The overall cost of the project has not changed and it is still going ahead as planned. The next milestone is the award of the main contract and that is still anticipated to take place at the end of next year."

It is envisaged the new station in Tweedbank could be built on the corner of Essenside Drive with a pedestrian entrance opposite Blakehope Court - although the road entrance would remain at a new roundabout to be built on Tweedbank Drive, at the entrance to the industrial estate nearest Craw Wood.

However, concerns have been raised that it could lead to an increase in traffic through the village, as well as rogue parking, and put lives at risk.

Community council secretary Andrew Bramhall, who revealed the community council had campaigned for a reduction of the speed limit on the neighbouring bypass, said: "One of the serious problems in the village is speeding with vehicles travelling up to 60mph in a 30mph limit."

And Mr Cavaroli added: "There is a feeling that someone has to die before anything is done."

The Borders railway project team presented their plans to the community council at their meeting in the community centre last week.

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• 

  hazelkaye
  200 posts
  Sep 8, 20:18
  Report comment

  Scandalous that it was closed in 1969! Who demolishes their perfectly good and functional house/property then decide to rebuild it some 40 years later? MADNESS!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Geoff Ruderham
  Unregistered User
  Sep 24, 00:13
  Report comment

  More heel dragging, again I find myself agreeing with hazelkaye.
  
  I can't understand also the builders who when they've built the railway to Tweedbank
  
  will have to basically ignore almost the same number of folk south of the proposed station,
  
  ie; Melrose, St Boswalls, Hawick and at a push Jedburgh.
  
  Micheal Moore said at the Grand Opening of the Station halt at Whitrope and inthis journal that the Westminster Government are in favour of full re-introduction.
  
  So let's get to it , also if I'm not being to greedy,
  
  how about re-opening the Kelso branch through to Tweedmouth?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  David Spaven
  Unregistered User
  Sep 24, 08:48
  Report comment

  If there is a problem with speeding traffic in Tweedbank village, then Scottish Borders Council has all the powers necessary to tackle it - with engineering, enforcement and awareness raising measures. It doesn't make sense to blame the future railway, which will save deaths and injuries through encouraging motorists to switch to a much safer mode of transport.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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