The electrification project for the Scottish Borders Railway is set to begin, with plans to temporarily close sections of the line over three weekends next month for construction work. This project is part of a £342 million investment plan announced by Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop last September, aimed at enhancing the electrification of the Glasgow, Fife, and Borders rail lines and introducing electric trains.
The Borders Railway reopened in September 2015, connecting Edinburgh (Newcraighall), Galashiels, and Tweedbank, and has since served over 13 million passenger journeys. The line forms part of the former Waverley Route, which once extended to Hawick and Carlisle, and advocates continue efforts to restore this section.
The electrification works will install 25kV overhead lines between Newcraighall and Shawfair, and between Bowshank Tunnel south of Stow and the Tweedbank terminus. The Edinburgh to Newcraighall section was previously electrified, and the rebuilt line to Tweedbank was designed over a decade ago with provisions for electrification, facilitating the current upgrade.
Once the newly electrified sections are complete, existing diesel trains will be replaced by hybrid battery-electric trains, helping to improve environmental performance and operational efficiency. Engineers will commence preparatory work, such as piling, starting Saturday, with specific construction scheduled for the weekends of March 14–16, 21–23, and 28–30. Some work will take place overnight to minimize disruption.
Lindsey McLean, Project Manager for Network Rail Scotland, stated: "The Borders Railway was rebuilt with future electrification in mind, meaning we can deliver this work with far less intrusive engineering than would be required on many older parts of the network, which often need track lowering or bridge raising. The infrastructure here is already suited for this next stage of modernization."
McLean added: "Piling remains a crucial early step in installing the overhead line equipment that will ultimately power electric trains. Our team has carefully planned activities to minimize disruption to passengers and residents near the railway." This Borders Railway electrification project is expected to drive the overall upgrade of Scotland's rail network, aligning with long-term sustainability goals.
