Borders Railway & the Waverley Line: History and How to Visit

The Original Waverley Route

The Edinburgh to Carlisle Waverley Route opened in 1862, running 98 miles through Galashiels, Hawick, Newcastleton, and over the border into England. For over a century, it connected remote Border communities to Edinburgh and the wider rail network.

Newcastleton had its own station on the line. Older residents still remember the last train on 6 January 1969, when the route was closed under the Beeching cuts. The closure left Liddesdale without rail access, a situation that has lasted over fifty years.

The Waverley Route was always a dramatic piece of railway engineering. It climbed to over 1,000 feet at Whitrope Summit between Hawick and Newcastleton, passing through tunnels and crossing viaducts in wild moorland. The engineering challenges were part of why the line was expensive to maintain and eventually closed.

The Borders Railway Today

In 2015, the first 30 miles of the old Waverley Route reopened as the Borders Railway, running from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank near Melrose. It was the longest new domestic railway built in Britain for over a century.

The reopened line serves stations including Stow, Galashiels, and Tweedbank. From Edinburgh, the journey takes about an hour. The service runs roughly hourly in each direction throughout the day.

What You Can Do from the Borders Railway

• Abbotsford House: Sir Walter Scott's home, a short bus ride from Tweedbank station
• Melrose Abbey: One of Scotland's finest ruined abbeys, walkable from Tweedbank
• Galashiels: The largest Borders town on the line, with shops and the Great Tapestry of Scotland
• Walking and cycling: The railway connects with several walking and cycling routes in the central Borders

The Campaign to Extend to Newcastleton and Carlisle

Since the Borders Railway opened, there has been a sustained campaign to extend it south from Tweedbank through Hawick to Newcastleton and on to Carlisle. The Campaign for Borders Rail and local communities have argued that the full route would transform connectivity for southern Borders towns and villages.

A rail connection would change Newcastleton significantly. The village would be within commuting distance of both Edinburgh and Carlisle, likely boosting tourism and property values. The old trackbed through Liddesdale remains largely intact, which supporters see as reducing the cost and complexity of reinstatement.

Progress has been gradual. Feasibility studies have been commissioned, and political support exists at local and national levels. The timeline remains uncertain, but the campaign has kept the issue visible.

Traces of the Railway in Newcastleton

Walking around Newcastleton, you can still see evidence of the old railway:

• The former station site, now used for other purposes
• The trackbed running north and south of the village, partly used as paths
• Bridge abutments crossing Liddel Water
• The route towards Whitrope, visible as a cutting through the moorland

For railway enthusiasts, walking sections of the old trackbed between Newcastleton and Whitrope makes a fascinating outing. The Whitrope Heritage Centre, located at the old summit, preserves railway artefacts and runs occasional open days.

Getting to Newcastleton Without the Train

Until the railway extends south, Newcastleton is reached by road. See our getting here guide for driving directions from Edinburgh, Carlisle, and other starting points. The nearest current rail stations are Carlisle (40 min drive) and Tweedbank (1 hour drive via Hawick).

Visiting the Borders Railway from Newcastleton

If you are staying in Newcastleton and want to ride the Borders Railway, drive to Tweedbank (about an hour) and take the train north to Edinburgh. It makes a good day trip: park at Tweedbank, ride to Edinburgh for the day, and return in the evening.

Alternatively, visit Melrose and Abbotsford from Tweedbank station, then drive back to Newcastleton through Hawick. The drive through the central Borders is scenic and passes through several attractive towns.