RAGES has long been pressing for the re-introduction of the local service from Edinburgh to Berwick with the possible re-opening of stations at East Linton and Reston.
The study was presented to the Scottish Executive and in mid-December 2004 they agreed to fund 50% of the next stage of the process - a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance 1 (STAG 1). Scott Wilson undertook this appraisal..
The Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) 1 report on rail and road connections between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed was released in October 2005. STAG1 looked at a number of options to improve rail and road transport along the East Coast between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed, including the possibility of a local rail service with new or re-opened stations at East Linton and Reston. This option, which is favoured by the lobbying group Rail Action Group East of Scotland, RAGES, was identified as worthy of further examination at the more detailed STAG 2 analysis stage.
Progress to STAG 2 has been disappointingly slow, but with the change of administration both at Government and local levels, it is hoped that this will be resolved.
RAGES has now been invited to regular SEStran meetings to discuss our aims.
The new MSP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, John Lamont raised the STAG 2 situation recently in parliament and is reported in The Rages Rag Issue 35.
In addition, John Lamont and Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, met the Minister of Transport at the end of October to discuss the STAG 2 situation and other RAGES’s aims. The Minister asked RAGES to meet with him and this took place on 13 March (see News page).
The changeover of the franchises to Arriva and National Express appear to have been satisfactory.
The power of lobbying was seen by the re-instatement of the Christmas Eve (and 27 and 28th) 07:14 hrs service after National Express declared it as not required.
