A new report published today [Thursday 15 June] has found that the Borders Railway is attracting new workers, homeowners and tourists to communities served by the line.
The independent study highlights that the service has been a major factor in decisions to relocate to the area, with 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who changed jobs stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision. There was also a tourism benefit, with 23% of visitors stating that they would not have made the trip without the line.
The results will be discussed at the Scottish Transport Summit in Glasgow today during a session on the role of transport in boosting the economy.
Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:
“The reopening of the Borders Railway was a momentous occasion for residents along its route, bringing with it economic, education and employment opportunities. This independent report provides solid evidence that the communities along the line are beginning to feel the benefit of our investment. The route’s popularity was already undisputed and we will continue to work with all the Blueprint Group members to ensure that it continues to act as a catalyst for further social and economic regeneration.”
Danny Cusick of Scottish Enterprise, who chairs the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, added:
“This has been a very thorough study and it provides us with valuable insights into how the line is helping the whole region. There’s also a lot we can learn as we progress our shared efforts to maximise the economic, environmental and social benefits of the line. We are determined to build on this success further in coming years to establish the Borders Railway region as an excellent location for business, living, leisure and learning.”
The report, commissioned by Transport Scotland and the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, was carried out by Peter Brett Associates with the aim of evaluating the project’s success a year on from its reopening.
It also examined the impact the line has had on visitor numbers, passenger views of service quality and real and perceived barriers to use for those not using the service.
The key findings including
Social and economic impact:
• 39% of respondents of the user survey were traveling on a tourist day trip or overnight stay. 34% of these were traveling to the Scottish Borders or Midlothian.
• More than 65% of tourist users stated that the rail line was a factor in their decision to make their trip and 23% stated that they would not have made the trip were it not for the line. (In January 2017 a separate report also showed there had been a significant improvement in key tourism performance figures in the first half of 2016, compared to the first half of 2015 when the railway was not yet open.)
• There is evidence that the Borders Railway has affected peoples’ residential choices and choice of workplace, as more than 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who moved employment since the reopening of the line stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision.
• More than 90% of respondents agreed that the railway promoted access between the Scottish Borders / Midlothian and Edinburgh.
• More than 90% agreed that it improved access for those without a car and 85% agreed it encouraged a shift from the car to public transport.
• 79% agreed that it improved access to Edinburgh’s job market.
Service use:
• Commuting is the most common journey purpose. There was also a large volume of leisure users and a considerable number of trips for education. (In December 2016, Borders College reported a 74% increase in applications.)
• Approximately 50,000 (36%) of the estimated annual single trips recorded via the sample were ‘new trips’.
• Passenger numbers are higher than forecast at all Scottish Borders stations and lower than forecast at all Midlothian stations.
• Tweedbank accounts for the biggest component of demand and Edinburgh Waverley is the most frequent destination.
• Overall, there was a high level of satisfaction with the quality of the service.
Modal shift:
• There has been a modal shift from car and bus to rail.
• It is estimated there were 40,000 saved car journeys annually.
• The shift from bus to rail equates to an estimated 22,000 annual bus journeys.
Non-usage and improvements:
• The most popular reason for not using the service was a greater convenience offered by car.
• Lower bus fares, the greater convenience of bus and the use of the National Entitlement Card on buses were also popular responses to why the service wasn’t used.
• 37% of non- and one-off users stated that improvements to the railway would encourage them to use it.
• The most popular improvement requested is lower fares.
• Users were least satisfied with the availability of staff, facilities and services at stations.
The research was carried out before the service improvement plan announced by Scotrail in November 2016 took effect. Since the study, Scotrail has also put in place extra seats on peak-services and, in January 2017, opened a new customer hub at Tweedbank, offering locally-produced refreshments and toilet facilities.
In April, Transport Scotland announced that extending the Borders Railway will be one of the options considered by a new study looking at improving transport provision in the south of Scotland across all modes including road, rail and public transport.
A new campaign – Borders Railway: More Connected – is underway to promote the benefits of working and investing in the area.
The ScotRail Alliance is proud to announce the creation of Scotland’s newest community rail partnership (CRP).
The Rail 74 partnership launches on Friday 2 June, on the route between Rutherglen and Hamilton Central. To mark the event, a piper will greet the train at Rutherglen, with volunteers from the CRP joining and raising awareness of the new group to passengers on the train.
The partnership brings together groups from across the community to improve and promote their local railway line. The partnership was made possible by Business in the Community Scotland, whose local Business Connectors worked with a wide range of local groups to establish the partnership.
The group intends to act as bridge between the line and the local community, and make the communities along the line a better place to work, live and do business.
The ScotRail Alliance has extensively supported the partnership, awarding £10,000 of funding to the partnership to facilitate their plans. The most visible of which will be large totem pole, hand-carved by groups ranging including young homeless people, mental health patients and primary schoolchildren.
James Ledgerwood, the ScotRail Alliance’s head of economic development said, “We know that railways are the lifeblood of many communities across the country.
“Community rail partnerships are an excellent way for us to work in partnership with local communities to maximise the wider opportunities our services can bring. Rail74 has some really exciting plans in place, and we look forward to working within them in there delivery.
“I know they have the drive and determination to make a real difference.”
Jane Wood, Director of Membership and Nations for Business in the Community, said: “We are delighted to see the hard work of our Business Connectors, Diane Whatelely and Suzie McCheyne come to fruition through this invaluable partnership.
There is an undeniable role for business within communities, building a fairer society and a more sustainable future for us all, and it’s great to see the ScotRail Alliance, HMRC and Scottish Gas play such an active role in the development of Rail 74.”
Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, has become a Cycle Friendly Campus, gaining the Cycle Friendly Award, with distinction, from Cycling Scotland.
Staff and students at QMU are celebrating receiving the top Cycle Friendly Campus Award, with distinction from Cycling Scotland in recognition of their commitment to getting more staff and students cycling.
The award, which is delivered with funding from Transport Scotland, recognises the efforts of Scotland’s colleges and universities that promote cycling as an accessible and convenient travel choice, was presented to Tom Kemsley, Sustainability Support Officer at QMU, by Cycling Scotland’s Paul Wright, in recognition of the outstanding level of commitment the University has shown to encourage cycling to, from and around it’s Musselburgh campus.
The University implemented a range of measures including reinvesting income from campus parking charges to support active travel. Other measures include secure cycle parking, cycle maintenance areas, changing facilities, term-time bike hire, cycle training and led cycle rides. The current rate of cycling is 8%.
Commenting on the Cycle Friendly Campus Award for QMU, Tom Kemsley, Sustainability Support Officer, said: “We’re really proud to have been recognised for this award, with distinction, by Cycling Scotland for our ongoing commitment to encouraging more and more staff and students to cycle to, from and around the QMU campus.
“We’ve made great progress continuing to expand the bike hire scheme at QMU over the past year and engaging with the cycling community through regular campus events, as well as via our dedicated Cycle Connections social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. Our long-standing cycling community at QMU have also made a big contribution to helping us recruit new members and creating a self-sufficient cycling community on campus.
“Located on the National Cycle Route, travelling by bike is an easy way to travel to QMU, whilst keeping fit at the same time. The University regularly arranges ‘Dr Bike’ mobile mechanic sessions to service bikes cycled in on the day, including minor on the spot repairs minor and a bike MOT, which are proving very popular amongst students and staff.”
The Cycle Friendly Campus Award is run by Cycling Scotland with funding from Transport Scotland and recognises exemplar projects from Scotland’s college and university campuses where cycling is a real and accessible part of campus life. Campuses can register to become a Cycle Friendly Campus online at www.cycling.scot
The ScotRail Alliance is advising all customers who use Glasgow Central to check their journey before they travel on Scottish Cup Final day.
Trains will be considerably busier than usual, and extra services will be running to and from Hampden. Additional carriages will be added on key services to destinations across Glasgow, Ayrshire and Inverclyde.
As with all major events on the network, alcohol bans and queueing systems will be in place.
Celtic supporters are advised to use King’s Park station before and after game, while Aberdeen fans should use Mount Florida.
To allow for additional services to run to and from the game, many trains using the high level stations will depart from a different platform than usual, and may also arrive or depart at slightly different times. Affected routes include (in both directions):
• Glasgow – Ayr
• Glasgow – Barrhead/Kilmarnock/Carlisle
• Glasgow – East Kilbride
• Glasgow – Neilston/Newton
• Glasgow – Wemyss Bay
A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson said: “Don’t score an own goal, leave plenty of time to get to the game. Extra staff will be around to help – please follow their instructions to ensure that everything goes smoothly.”
“The last trains of the night are going to be very busy, too – so please plan to catch an earlier one.”
The ScotRail Alliance is urging customers who use Carstairs stations to check their journey times before they travel, as engineering works are taking place over the bank holiday weekend.
Journey times will be extended as buses replace trains through Carstairs on 27 and 29 May. On Monday 29 May only, some services will start or terminate at Lanark, with connecting buses running between Carstairs and Lanark.
Replacement buses will depart Carstairs earlier than normal and arrive back later, so customers are being encouraged to plan ahead and check their journey plans on the ScotRail app or at scotrail.co.uk.
A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson said: “These are vital works, and we appreciate our customers’ patience.”
Drivers heading for the West End from the south of the City and Lothian Road could soon find their journey simplified if the City of Edinburgh Council approves changes to current traffic arrangements.
A review of traffic management in the city centre has been completed following the start of tram passenger services.
Among the recommendations in a report to the Transport and Environment Committee on 26 August 2014 is a proposal to allow all traffic to travel westbound from Hope Street to Queensferry Street, rather than buses only as at present.
Traders from the West End called for this in a deputation to the committee on 18 March 2014.
They noted that with the removal of the left turn from Lothian Road into Shandwick Place to facilitate trams, it had become difficult for private vehicles, cycles and taxis in particular to access properties and businesses in the West End.
The report also asks members to give the go-ahead for further investigation into the option of introducing a right turn from Queen Street westbound into Queen Street Gardens East.
Another recommendation, which follows on from the start of the new Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in George Street, is to change the priority of Young Street from an eastbound to a westbound direction.
Residents and businesses here have expressed concerns about a perceived increased volume of traffic and in particular, more vans and heavy good vehicles, since the George Street scheme was first implemented earlier this summer.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Now that trams have been running for a couple of months or so, it’s a good time to make any appropriate alterations to surrounding traffic management so that we can make it as straightforward as possible to get from A to B in the city centre.
“We know that West End traders have had concerns about access to their businesses so the proposal to open up Hope Street for all westbound traffic into Queensferry Street should make things much better.
“I was pleased to meet recently with residents and businesses in Young Street to hear how their street has been adversely affected by increased traffic since we started the ETRO in George Street. This narrow cobbled street is simply not fit for the volume and nature of traffic it’s been experiencing of late. Changing the one-way direction will help divert traffic away from Young Street and on to Queen Street, which can accommodate commercial and through-traffic far more comfortably.”
