Reston railway station

In 1904 the station (then listed as Reston for Coldingham and St. Abbs) was able to handle all classes of traffic (goods, passengers, parcels, wheeled vehicles, livestock, etc.) and there was a goods crane capable of lifting 1.5 long tons (1,524 kg).[12] Between Reston and Chirnside (on the Duns line) there were sidings known as Auchencrow Siding (just south of the road overbridge at grid reference NT860599) and Billiemains Sidings (just north of the road underbridge at NT858593), each on the western side of the line and able to handle goods only.[13][14]

Maps of the period show that Reston station had platforms on both sides of the double-track main line which were linked by a footbridge; the station building was on the northern (eastbound) platform; the platform for the single-track Duns line was on the north side of that line; the goods yard with its crane was on the north side of the main line on the western side of the station; and that the junction was to the east of the station. The maps also show sidings close to the junction, a weighing machine in the goods yard, a turntable in the angle between the two routes, a signal box near the junction and several signals.[14]

The St. Boswells line was cut back to Duns following flood damage on 12 August 1948.[10] The Duns branch closed to passengers on 10 September 1951,[8][15] and to freight on 16 July 1965.[16] Reston and Grantshouse stations were listed for closure in the first Beeching report,[17] and duly closed on 4 May 1964;[18] Ayton had closed on 5 February 1962.[19]

The remaining infrastructure at Reston consists of two engineer's sidings, one on each side, and two crossovers 47 miles 14 chains (75.9 km) from Edinburgh Waverley.[20]

Proposals to reopen the station have received the backing of John Lamont MSP, who has taken the case to the Scottish Parliament.[21] A study published in 2013 proposed that East Linton and Reston stations be reopened.[22]

In 2019, Transport Scotland confirmed that the station would be operational by 2024.[23] The outline plans for the new station include 260-metre (853 ft) platforms either side of the Berwick-to-Edinburgh line, long enough to accommodate a 10-carriage train, as well as an accessible footbridge, shelters and a 70-space car park with provision for expansion in the future.[24][25] In December 2020, a planning application for a new station was submitted.[26] The application was approved in February 2021 and construction began in March 2021.[27]

In September 2021, the line was closed for a weekend, allowing the footbridge for the station to be moved into position over the railway.[28]

In 2021, a consultation by CrossCountry has stated that either TransPennine Express services between Newcastle and Edinburgh could call at the station or ScotRail services between Edinburgh and Dunbar could call but it is likely that CrossCountry services will call up to 5 times a day heading towards Edinburgh Northbound and Plymouth (via Newcastle, York, Leeds, Wakefield and Sheffield).

The consultation states however that if CrossCountry services call at Reston they will not call at Dunbar. Beyond 2023, it had been suggested a shuttle run between Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh calling at Dunbar and Reston along the way every two hours.[29] In September 2021, TransPennine Express announced that they would be introducing a five return trains per weekday semi-fast service between Newcastle and Edinburgh from December 2021, which will call at Reston.[30]