Talks have been held between Carlisle City Council and the Campaign for Borders Rail regarding reinstatement of the line from the Cumbrian city to Tweedbank.
Coun Colin Glover met representatives of CBR to discuss how reopening the line would stimulate economic growth. A survey is also being carried out into whether there should be a reopening (RAIL 825), while CBR is carrying out its own work looking at the prospect of the railway’s return.
At the meeting, Glover confirmed a desire to reopen the route as part of a Borderlands Initiative for cross-border economic development. He said a rebuilt line through Longtown and Hawick was a logical step forward from the safeguarding of the route in the council’s existing Local Plan.
“There are clear benefits for Carlisle. Building a new line supports plans for growth all over the city and region,” he said.
“This would add significantly to economic growth in Longtown, the new air services from Carlisle, and our aims to encourage modal shift from road to rail for freight. This helps make Carlisle an even more vital part of the Northern Powerhouse.”
- For more on this, read RAIL 835, published on September 13.
- To read ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes' views on Borders, read RAIL 833, available from Back Issues, and on Android/iPad.
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FrankH - 05/09/2017 12:53
Everybody wants to see new routes built or resurrected but this line hasn't got enough large towns/villages on it's route from Tweedbank to Carlisle to give it a chance of success.
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