THIS morning Monday May 23 2022 the 6.16am TransPennine Express service from Edinburgh stopped at Reston in a landmark moment for local communities.
The Border Piper, Sandy Mutch, played Scotland the Brave as the service arrived at the £20 million station and for the first time in half a century, local customers could use rail to travel to Edinburgh, Newcastle.
To mark the historic occasion, the first train to call at the new station, a TPE Nova 1 (train number 802212), was named ‘St Abb’s Head’ after the picturesque Scottish National Trust reserve located just a few miles away.
The station has been backed by a 20-million-pound (23,6 million euro) investment from the Scottish Government and will enable trains to serve the village and the rural hinterland for the first time since 1964.
The service marks a new era in public transport for Berwickshire, which is now connected to towns and cities across the UK on the East Coast Main Line.
Reston station boasts a pair of 270 metre long platforms which cater for 10 carriage trains and is fully accessible with step free access.
Jenny Gilruth, Scottish Government minister for transport said the station marked a “step-change in provision of public transport in the area”.
Matthew Golton, Managing Director of TransPennine Express, who was among TPE customers on the first rail journey to Reston, said: “This is a landmark day for Reston – and for TPE – and we’re delighted we’ve been able to work with our partners to help connect communities in the Scottish Borders.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and it was fantastic to see so many using our newly named ‘St Abb’s Head’ Nova train this morning. We’re excited to welcome the hundreds of future travellers who have already purchased advanced tickets and look forward to the part TPE will play in providing new leisure and commuting opportunities for the local community.”
Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “It is part of our commitment, alongside the Scottish Government, to expand the rail network and connect Scotland’s Railway to new communities.
“The opening of the station at Reston is an exciting development that has the potential to transform life for local people and the communities it will serve.
“This station will create new social and economic opportunities for people in the village and in the surrounding area and we look forward to welcoming services back to Reston - and to seeing the positive impact the railway will have in years to come.”
MP for Berwickshire Roxburgh and Selkirk John Lamont has campaigned for Reston station to be reopened since 2004 and this morning he joined campaigners and local residents on the platform before joining the train to London.
He said: “This is a momentous day for Reston and for the campaigners who have worked so tirelessly to see the station reopened. It was both a proud and emotional sight to see the first train roll into the station this morning. I was delighted that I was able to use the first service to take me to London for another busy week in the House of Commons.
“We must pay tribute to people like Barrie Forrest, Tom Thorburn and the entire team from RAGES (Rail Action Group East Scotland) who have dedicated so much of their time to reinstating a station here.
“Similarly, we should note that this project would not have got off the ground if Scottish Borders Council had not contributed £3million of their budget towards the construction costs.
“Personally, I have campaigned for the re-opening of this station since 2004. It was a campaign which I relentlessly pursued after my election to Holyrood as the area’s MSP in 2007 and have continued as Berwickshire’s MP at Westminster.
“I can’t wait to see the benefits that this new station will bring to our local area. With it now only taking 40 minutes to get to Edinburgh, 11 minutes to Berwick-upon-Tweed and about 60 minutes to get to Newcastle, it will undoubtedly open up job and educational opportunities for our young people in Berwickshire. The tourism opportunities will be massive too.
“Today is the beginning of an exciting new beginning of transport connectivity in Berwickshire and the Scottish Borders.”
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