GUEST EVENING - 'Borders Railway Project', Chris Bone

'Sheep Creeps' and 'Cattle Creeps' - two new concepts our members were asked to address by Chris Bone when he gave us a fascinating insight into the many aspects of reconstructing the Borders Railway. First opened in 1849 then finally closed against stiff Borders opposition in January 1969 the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank will soon reopen ( September 2015 ) with seven new stations.

Chris, a structural engineer seconded as Project Manager to Network Rail took us through the early campaign for the line to be reopened, the feasibility study and the Waverley Act passed in 2006 to enable construction to proceed.

The railway at 30+ miles long will be the longest constructed in Britain for 100 years, will cost £270 million and is on budget and schedule. Diverting the City bypass, building 42 new bridges, reconstructing two tunnels and infilling 15 disused mineshafts were some of the structural solutions  well illustrated in Chris's excellent slides.

The Gala Water and wild life, badgers, otters, lampreys and the environmental protections required during construction were a revelation to many members.

Chris took a question and answer session at the end of his talk  and a vote of thanks was proposed by Peter McGavigan.

Report by Jim Douglas