UK: A ‘major construction milestone’ in the £294m Borders Railway project to reinstate the Edinburgh – Tweedbank route was announced on August 13, after the first section of track was laid in Bowshank Tunnel near Galashiels.
Slab track is being installed through the 200 m long 19th century tunnel because of the restricted clearances. A team of 25 people worked for two weeks to lay the concrete for the northbound track, and has now moved to the southbound line. Once this is completed, ballasted track will be laid on the rest of the 48 route-km line.
‘Laying the slab track is an essential part of the preparation works ahead of the tracklaying taking place in the autumn’, said Hugh Wark, Project Director at infrastructure manager Network Rail. ‘With just over a year to go until the first trains start running, we are looking forward to marking many more exciting milestones over the coming weeks and months as we move closer towards completion of the new line.’
