Borders Railway on track for success

A new report published today [Thursday 15 June] has found that the Borders Railway is attracting new workers, homeowners and tourists to communities served by the line.

The independent study highlights that the service has been a major factor in decisions to relocate to the area, with 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who changed jobs stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision. There was also a tourism benefit, with 23% of visitors stating that they would not have made the trip without the line.

The results will be discussed at the Scottish Transport Summit in Glasgow today during a session on the role of transport in boosting the economy.

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:“The reopening of the Borders Railway was a momentous occasion for residents along its route, bringing with it economic, education and employment opportunities. This independent report provides solid evidence that the communities along the line are beginning to feel the benefit of our investment. The route’s popularity was already undisputed and we will continue to work with all the Blueprint Group members to ensure that it continues to act as a catalyst for further social and economic regeneration.”

Danny Cusick of Scottish Enterprise, who chairs the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, said: “This has been a very thorough study and it provides us with valuable insights into how the line is helping the whole region. There’s also a lot we can learn as we progress our shared efforts to maximise the economic, environmental and social benefits of the line. We are determined to build on this success further in coming years to establish the Borders Railway region as an excellent location for business, living, leisure and learning.”

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “From breathtaking historic attractions to unique shops, accommodation and eateries, visitors have been hopping on board the Borders Railway in their thousands to experience all that Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders have to offer.

“The fact that nearly a quarter of tourists surveyed said they wouldn’t have visited the Scottish Borders if the line hadn’t re-opened demonstrates exactly why the Borders Railway has been such great news for tourism.

“Scotland’s reputation as a quality destination relies on continued investment and innovation to ensure that current provision meets future demand, and the success of the Borders Railway shows just how important this is. It has had a massive impact on the local economy since it was re-opened and has helped to shine a global spotlight on all the regions it serves.”

The report, commissioned by Transport Scotland and the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, was carried out by Peter Brett Associates with the aim of evaluating the project’s success a year on from its reopening.

It also examined the impact the line has had on visitor numbers, passenger views of service quality and real and perceived barriers to use for those not using the service.

The key findings include:

Social and economic impact:

• 39% of respondents of the user survey were traveling on a tourist day trip or overnight stay. 34% of these were traveling to the Scottish Borders or Midlothian.
• More than 65% of tourist users stated that the rail line was a factor in their decision to make their trip and 23% stated that they would not have made the trip were it not for the line. (In January 2017 a separate report also showed there had been a significant improvement in key tourism performance figures in the first half of 2016, compared to the first half of 2015 when the railway was not yet open.) 
• There is evidence that the Borders Railway has affected peoples’ residential choices and choice of workplace, as more than 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who moved employment since the reopening of the line stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision.
• More than 90% of respondents agreed that the railway promoted access between the Scottish Borders / Midlothian and Edinburgh.
• More than 90% agreed that it improved access for those without a car and 85% agreed it encouraged a shift from the car to public transport.
• 79% agreed that it improved access to Edinburgh’s job market.

Service use:

• Commuting is the most common journey purpose. There was also a large volume of leisure users and a considerable number of trips for education. (In December 2016, Borders College reported a 74% increase in applications.)
• Approximately 50,000 (36%) of the estimated annual single trips recorded via the sample were ‘new trips’.
• Passenger numbers are higher than forecast at all Scottish Borders stations and lower than forecast at all Midlothian stations. 
• Tweedbank accounts for the biggest component of demand and Edinburgh Waverley is the most frequent destination.
• Overall, there was a high level of satisfaction with the quality of the service.

Modal shift:

• There has been a modal shift from car and bus to rail. 
• It is estimated there were 40,000 saved car journeys annually. 
• The shift from bus to rail equates to an estimated 22,000 annual bus journeys.

Non-usage and improvements:

• The most popular reason for not using the service was a greater convenience offered by car. 
• Lower bus fares, the greater convenience of bus and the use of the National Entitlement Card on buses were also popular responses to why the service wasn’t used. 
• 37% of non- and one-off users stated that improvements to the railway would encourage them to use it. 
• The most popular improvement requested is lower fares.
• Users were least satisfied with the availability of staff, facilities and services at stations.

The research was carried out before the service improvement plan announced by Scotrail in November 2016 took effect. Since the study, Scotrail has also put in place extra seats on peak-services and, in January 2017, opened a new customer hub at Tweedbank, offering locally-produced refreshments and toilet facilities.

In April, Transport Scotland announced that extending the Borders Railway will be one of the options considered by a new study looking at improving transport provision in the south of Scotland across all modes including road, rail and public transport.

A new campaign – Borders Railway: More Connected – is underway to promote the benefits of working and investing in the area.