Scottish Borders rail link underway

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Work to reopen the rail line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank has officially started.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson cut the first sod on the Scottish Borders rail route yesterday.

The event marked the activation of the Waverley Railway Act, committing the Scottish government to finishing the project estimated to cost between £235m and £295m.

Construction on the 35-miles of track is not expected to take place until after November 2011 and be completed by 2014.

Stevenson said: "When finished, the railway will act as a catalyst for economic growth right across southern Scotland, supporting hundreds of jobs during its construction.

"It will also increase business development and housing opportunities across the region, whilst helping promote inward investment."
The area has not been served by a main rail line for more than 40 years.

Liberal Democrat MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis said after meeting with Transport Scotland officials he feels the project can be accelerated.

Welcoming the activation of the act, Purvis said: "This means that it needs to be completed in 5 years, but ministers have a power to extend this for a further five years. I am confident however that the date can be brought forward for construction.

"The Scottish Government has put in place a date of signing the contract for the construction of the new £2bn Forth Crossing in early 2011 and there is no possible explanation why the Borders Railway should be later than that."