Border rail

There is quite a swell, not just to re-open railways but increase frequencies such as at his home station. Many seniors, while having an entitlement card, do wish to travel by train from greatly improved litter-free stations, generally with well-kept gardens and the many advantages rail has over even express buses.

Railways were indeed built originally to carry freight quicker than by canal, but in the intervening 150 years the situation has changed. People have moved out of city centres and need fast and comfortable conduits to work from the new suburbia. Car parking is not available in many town centres.

By frequently speaking to folk at the Greenyards, Mansfield Park or Poynder Park, at garden centres, banks and supermarkets, I have discovered that the whole of the Borders were very positive about the reintroduction of the railway and the many benefits it will bring, as has already been shown elsewhere.

By the way, Eyemouth folk will soon be able to benefit from a reopened station at Reston, as will East Linton commuters from their new station.

Colin C Maclean

Hillpark Avenue

Edinburgh

Extra trains to be provided for the Borders Line? Really?

Given that Abellio ScotRail positively shortens trains (Glasgow-Edinburgh and Inverness-Glasgow via Aberdeen), where are these extra trains to come from? I’ve just returned from an umpteenth visit to Germany. Managers of the national rail company Deutsche Bahn would surely gasp in disbelief at the sheer inability of both Abellio ScotRail and Transport Scotland to plan and provide for the custom of a new railway, quite apart from the appalling standards of the third-rate trains used on Scotland’s long-distance services.

First impressions count. I have to wonder how many potential travellers have endured one trip on the Borders Line and vowed “never again”. Who could blame them?

Gordon Casely

Crathes

Kincardineshire