Performance against objectives

Transport Planning Objective 1

TPO 1: Improve access to reliable and consistent public transport services to Edinburgh and Newcastle in the East Berwickshire area for education, tourism, and access to employment in order to support inclusive economic growth.

Indicators Used

The following indicators have been used, based on primary and secondary data sources to understand scheme performance against TPO1:

• Rail usage and station utilisation
• Journey times and accessibility to Edinburgh/Newcastle
• Travel behaviour for employment, education and leisure purposes
• Perceptions of accessibility, reliability and service quality from residents, visitors and businesses.

Primary Evidence

Primary survey evidence indicates that the reopening of Reston Railway Station has improved perceived access to rail services, but actual usage remains limited and largely non-essential in nature:

• Rail access and usage
  • 60% of residents reported using rail in the last 12 months, with 29% of rail users now using Reston station.
  • Around 30% of residents use the station, compared to 38% anticipated pre-opening.
• Journey purpose
  • Usage is predominantly leisure-based (91%), with limited use for employment (10%) and education (2%).
  • Most users (79%) use the station less than once per week, indicating low reliance for routine travel.
• Accessibility and perceptions
  • There is high satisfaction with station accessibility, 96% of respondents consider the station easy to access and 84% say it opens up new journey opportunities.
  • 80% of respondents perceive a positive local impact following the opening of Reston Railway Station.
  • High satisfaction with journey time, punctuality and reliability
  • Lower satisfaction with service frequency (27% dissatisfied) and first/last train timings (48% dissatisfied)
• Barriers to access
  • Service frequency (24% identified this as a major issue)
  • Lack of public transport integration (27% identified this as a major issue)
  • Car convenience (43% identified this as a major issue)
• Business evidence
  • Businesses recognise improved connectivity as a potential advantage (53%)
  • 98% say the station did not influence their location
  • 89% report no change in travel behaviour or operations as a result of the station opening.

Overall, the primary evidence demonstrates that the station has led to improved perceptions of accessibility, but limited behavioural change has been released in terms of accessing employment, education or services.

Secondary Evidence

Secondary datasets confirm improvements in accessibility and journey times, but more limited effects on demand.

• Journey times
  • Edinburgh: 47–48 minutes (significantly improved vs pre-opening >2 hours public transport)
  • Newcastle: 55 minutes
• Accessibility
  • Households able to access the station:
  • Walk: +209 households
  • Cycle: +258 households
  • Public transport to Edinburgh: +96 households
• Rail demand
  • Station usage increased to c.82 daily entries/exits (FY25) but remains below forecast (c.144/day).

This data confirms that core accessibility improvements have been delivered, although service characteristics reduce the appropriateness of rail travel for many trip purposes.

Findings

• The scheme has successfully improved physical access to rail services and reduced journey times to key regional centres.
• There is evidence of abstraction from other rail stations (e.g., Berwick-upon-Tweed), indicating local accessibility benefits.
• However, usage is below expectations and primarily leisure-focused, with limited uptake for employment or education.
• Operational constraints (notably low frequency and timetable gaps) limit effective utilisation.

Interpretation

At this stage, TPO1 has been partially achieved. The scheme demonstrates strong performance in:

• Improving accessibility
• Reducing journey times
• Providing new travel opportunities

But weaker performance in:

• Supporting regular access to employment and education
• Delivering consistent, reliable services
• Driving sustained behavioural change

The evidence suggests the scheme is functioning to provide improved connectivity to the rail network, but not yet as a core transport solution for daily access needs, largely due to service and integration constraints.

Key Point Box

Transport Planning Objective 2

TPO 2: Increase the sustainable mode share for residents and businesses from East Berwickshire to Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Indicators Used

The following indicators have been used, based on primary and secondary data sources to understand scheme performance against TPO2:

• Modal share (rail vs car)
• Mode of access to station
• Changes in travel behaviour and frequency
• Business and visitor travel patterns

Primary Evidence

Primary data collected through resident, visitor and business surveys indicate minimal shift towards sustainable modes away from private car use:

• Commuting mode share
  • Car dominates at c.80% of trips
  • Rail accounts for c.4% (similar to baseline)
• Station access
  • 67% access station by car overall
  • Only 24% walk/wheel (rising to 69% for Reston residents)
• Behaviour change
  • 84% report no change in travel frequency
  • Only 13% report increased travel due to the station
• Car substitution
  • Limited evidence of modal shift:
  • Some replacement of car trips to Edinburgh (28% partial/full substitution)
  • Minimal change for other destinations
• Business and visitor travel
  • Employees: 0% rail mode share
  • Visitors: 93% car, 1% rail
  • No significant shift in customer or business travel patterns

Secondary Evidence

Supporting secondary data reinforces the lack of substantial modal shift:

• Traffic levels on the A1 corridor increased (AM peak +20%), indicating continued car reliance.
• Rail usage growth exists but remains below forecast, implying limited transfer from car.
• Bus and active travel integration remains weak, constraining multi-modal journeys.

Findings

• There is no material change in overall modal share since opening.
• Rail is used selectively for longer-distance leisure travel, not as a substitute for everyday car journeys.
• First/last mile connectivity issues and service limitations constrain modal shift.

Interpretation

TPO2 has not been achieved at this stage:

• The scheme has created the conditions for modal shift, but:
  • Service levels are insufficient to be competitive with private cars
  • Integration with other modes is weak
  • The rural context reinforces car dependency
• Modal shift is therefore:
  • Negligeable
  • Trip-specific (mostly leisure based) rather than the preferred choice for many journey purposes.

Key Point Box

Alignment with National Transport Strategy Priorities

The Scottish Government published the National Transport Strategy (NTS) in February 2020, setting out a vision for Scotland’s transport system over the following 20 years. This vision is to:

…have a sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities businesses and visitors.

Table 62 demonstrates how this scheme aligns with each of the NTS priorities. Overall, the Reston Railway Station scheme demonstrates strong alignment with the strategic intent of the NTS, particularly in terms of improving accessibility and providing high-quality infrastructure. However, consistent with the wider findings of this Stage 1 evaluation:

• The scheme provides improved equality and connectivity
• Realisation of climate, economic and behavioural outcomes remains partial, reflecting early-stage implementation and service constraints
• Longer-term alignment with NTS priorities will depend on increased usage, improved service provision, and strengthened integration with other modes

Table 62: Alignment with National Transport Strategy Policies

Priorities	Outcomes	Scheme Alignment
Reduces Inequalities	Provide fair access to services Easy to use for all Affordable for all	The opening of Reston Railway Station has significantly improved access to the rail network for a previously disconnected rural community. Accessibility to key destinations such as Edinburgh and Newcastle has improved substantially, supporting inclusive access to employment, education and services. High levels of user satisfaction with accessibility and safety indicate the station is easy to use, although affordability and service frequency remain constraints for some users.
Takes climate action	Adapt to the effects of climate change Help to deliver net-zero target Promote greener, cleaner choices	The station provides the infrastructure necessary to support modal shift from private car to rail. However, evidence indicates that modal shift remains limited at this stage, with continued high car dependency and low rail mode share for commuting. While the scheme contributes positively in principle to climate objectives, realisation of these benefits is currently constrained by service levels and integration issues.
Helps deliver inclusive economic growth	Reliable, efficient and high quality Use beneficial innovation	Reston Station delivers a high-quality and reliable transport asset, with strong satisfaction ratings for facilities and passenger experience. It has improved regional connectivity and is recognised by businesses as a potential competitive advantage. However, no significant economic uplift or business behavioural change is evident at this stage, indicating that economic benefits are likely to be longer-term and dependent on demand growth and local development.
Improves health and wellbeing	Safe and secure for all Enables healthy travel choices Makes communities great places to live	The station performs strongly in terms of safety and security, with very high user satisfaction. It also supports active travel for local residents, particularly those within walking distance. However, the wider contribution to healthy travel behaviours is currently limited by high car-based access to the station and low overall modal shift. The station is widely perceived as a positive addition to the local area, contributing to community wellbeing and place attractiveness.