Track is laid in late 2014 in preparation for the reopening of the Borders Railway in September 2015. Picture by Railfuture’s Barrie Forrest


Rail campaigners have a chance to promote rail reopenings by signing a petition to ensure that former rail lines are protected from builders and developers who want to block them.

With the imminent reopening of the Edinburgh-Tweedbank Borders rail line, rail fan James Findlay has launched an online petition to Parliament.

By 15 August 2015, more than 2,000 people had signed the petition but 10,000 signatures are needed before the Government is required to respond.

If 100,000 signatures can be achieved, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

The closing date is 28 January 2016.

In his argument for the petition Mr Findlay says: “In the mid-1960s Dr Beeching was employed to find ways of making the railways more profitable and his report resulted in the closure of a large part of our railway system.

“The report failed to take into account the growth in population and the necessity for rural transport.

“The railways were mainly built under Act of Parliament. After closure local authorities have sold off railway land for development.

“Usage for footpaths and cycleways is fine. Building houses and industrial estates prevent regeneration of these railways.

“ScotRail is reopening the old Waverley route and other groups would like to reopen lines such as the Somerset and Dorset, Deeside line and the Lynton & Barnstable. Local authorites should be required to aid such projects and reject planning for developments.”

Railfuture directly campaigns for some rail reopenings and supports groups which are campaigning for others.

Throughout Britain, more and more people are waking up to the need for a railway to help regenerate their local economy.

You can sign the petition at: Petition

Some examples

Oxford-Cambridge

Uckfield-Lewes

Wisbech

The general argument

Missing links