Speaker - Mr Hugh Wark, The Borders Railway Project

Rebuilding the Edinburgh - Borders Railway was the theme of a most interesting talk at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 16th April. Rotarian Colin Riddell introduced former colleague Hugh Wark, project director for the scheme, which has seen the regeneration of a thirty-mile-long stretch of line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank - approximately one third of the original Waverley Line closed by Dr Beeching in 1969. In a well-illustrated presentation, Hugh described the many challenges he and his NetworkRail team faced in rebuilding the line which opens to the public in September. While much of the route had been returned to farmland or become overgrown, several elements such as the long viaduct at Craigesk were in remarkably good condition despite fifty years' neglect. Stabilising old mine workings beneath the route and crossing the City Bypass were major problems to be overcome. An interesting video clip showed the construction of the bridge over  Hardengreen Roundabout speeded up to a few seconds. At present, signalling systems and stations are being constructed and driver training on the line begins in June. It is hoped that the new line will not only provide a valuable link with the Borders but also stimulate commuter housing and business development along the route. Tourists and railway enthusiasts will again be able to experience crossing some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery by train. Hugh's talk prompted many questions from the floor. The vote of thanks was proposed by Norman Watson. In his closing remarks in which he thanked Councillor Alastair Shields, who was a guest of the club, President Charles Fletcher congratulated the staff of the Hawes Inn who succeeded in preparing an excellent meal despite failure of the gas supply in the kitchen.