Lockerbie
A Tragedy
19.01.2017 - 19.01.2017
9 °C
I had my first business trip of 2017 today. It was to Lockerbie, in the Scottish Borders.
Locals
Having made that journey by car many times, and once by train, I opted for the train this time. It involves changing trains in Edinburgh and that creates the risk of a delay causing a problem in making the connection, but today it was all perfect.
In fact the train back from Lockerbie to Edinburgh arrived 10 minutes early. TransPennine Express operates that service, and it’s really a connection between Edinburgh and Manchester/Manchester Airport.
Lockerbie Station
I was in 1st class for the Edinburgh/Lockerbie trains - well it’s a business expense and I get a good reduction with my railcard. The total cost was £41 return. Had I driven, the cost (at £0.40 per mile) would have been £89.
Town Centre (2)
Travel time was another factor. On paper the drive should take around 2 hours each way. In reality, major roadwork on the route mean it would probably have been more. The train took 1 hr 45 minutes each way (including the time spent waiting for the connections).
Town Centre
It’s a poignant place to visit. I have vivid memories of 21 December 1988, when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town killing 270 people. 11 of the town’s residents died when the largest piece of the fuselage landed on Sherwood Crescent. That street is about half a mile from the railway station.
The criminal trial which followed, the appeal procedures after that, and then the release (on compassionate grounds in accordance with Scots law) of the only person convicted served to keep the atrocity in the public eye for decades.
Posted by IainT 12:17 Archived in Scotland Tagged planes trains scotland lockerbie
