Borders Railway back on television, thanks to new DVD box set

Walking Britain's Lost Railways presenter Rob Bell, seen here at the Borders Railway's Tweedbank station, is among those featured in a new DVD box set.

Produced by Galashiels-based StuMedia’s Stuart Cameron for the Campaign for Borders Rail to mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Tweedbank-Edinburgh line, it’s called The Borders Railway Five Years On and it also features that Channel 5 show’s presenter, Rob Bell.

Campaign chairman Simon Walton said: “We would love to be recreating the fantastic scenes at Tweedbank when the Queen opened the line and brought opportunity back to the Borders.

“Under the current circumstances, we cannot, of course, do that, but we have brought together representatives from every viewpoint to tell the story of the existing Borders Railway and make the case for extension, through Hawick to Carlisle.

The front and back covers of the Borders Railway Five Years On, a new DVD box set out now.

“Stuart Cameron has been itching to do a really definitive, very much up-to-date look at the Borders Railway, completed only days before the anniversary.

“These circumstances have presented the perfect opportunity.

“Our Borders Railway Five Years On DVD set is a real lasting souvenir and something that involves everybody who cares for the railway, the Borders, and the community at large.

“It’s an opportunity to take the railway, the Borders and the campaign onto a truly international stage.

“It is my firm belief that while the temporary terminus at Tweedbank is as far as the line currently reaches, that will soon change and we will be on our way to Hawick and Carlisle.

“This DVD set is a unique document of both achievement and ambition and a worthy commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Borders Railway.”

Mr Bell, now a patron of the campaign, added: “There’s a real sense of pride in the Borders about their region, a real urge to be active and to do things well, and although times can be challenging, I sense there is a real optimism for the future that you can’t help but be swept along by.”

The four-disc box set features a real-time driver’s-eye view of a journey along the 30-mile track, plus a look back at its construction.

Contributors to the documentary include ScotRail managing director Alex Hynes, Scottish Government transport secretary Michael Matheson and the driver of the first public train to run on the track, Selkirk’s Stuart Farrell, and there are also interviews with UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Holyrood first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The DVD box set is available now – for £29.99, with £5 off for campaign members, plus £3 postage – via www.campaignforbordersrail.org and selected retail outlets.