Campaign to extend Borders Railway takes 'huge leap forward'
'There is absolutely no doubt the benefits of reinstating the line will be felt by all'
Last updated 1st Apr 2019
The UK Government's backing a full feasibility study into extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle - and it could get underway later this year.
Local MP John Lamont revealed he's received written confirmation, from Secretary of State David Mundell, that cash from the £345 million Borderlands Growth Deal is being lined up to pay for the project.
But, as the partnership is jointly funded with the Scottish Government, he says how soon a report can be compiled - or whether it will be published at all - is dependent on Scottish Ministers pledging their support.
He said: “This is great news for the campaign to bring the Borders Railway to Hawick and beyond.
“We need to improve transport links across the whole of the Borders and extending the Borders Railway is part of this.
“A full feasibility study will look in detail at the costs and benefits of bringing the railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle. I’d expect this to look at things like impact on businesses, jobs and tourism as well as the implications of getting freight off our roads.
“With the UK Government now publicly backing the study, the ball is now very much in the SNP’s court. Back in 2016, the First Minister went to Hawick and promised a feasibility study. It is time to fulfil this promise with some funding and get this campaign properly moving.”
The Borderlands Growth Deal is expected to be signed off in June.
Barbara Elborn, from Newcastleton and District Community Council, said: “This is a huge leap forward in our campaign to push for the extension of the line through to Carlisle. We can only hope now that our Scottish Parliamentarians also see the benefits of undertaking this wide-reaching study.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the benefits of reinstating the line will be felt by all within in the Borderlands Growth Deal catchment, but a feasibility study that delves deep to understand the full opportunities, and in our view that must include freight, will fully answer all those who doubt it.
“Those communities who have lived through the last 50 years without the line have no doubts at all about the rewards it will bring.”
Local SNP MSP Christine Grahame says the Scottish Government has always backed a full feasibility study into extending the Borders Railway.
She's responding to a call from Conservative MP John Lamont for the nationalists to put their money where their mouth is.
She says she's delighted the UK government's finally on board - because the line couldn't reach Carlisle without them.
Ms Grahame said: “The Borders Railway has been a fantastic success - boosting the economy, leading to new house building and supporting tourism in the region.
“My constituents will significantly benefit from any welcome extension to the existing Borders Railway, and I am sure they will welcome the news of a feasibility study into benefits of extending the railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and Carlisle.
“The SNP has always backed a feasibility study for the Borders Railway extension, and has made a significant investment in the economic development of the Scottish Borders since being in Government.
“I am pleased that the Tories are now supportive of the Borders Railway line, given that they thought the money on the railway could be better spent, but times and views do thankfully change."
Transport Scotland says it understands the importance of connectivity in the area and has already completed pre-appraisal work through the Borders Transport Corridor Study.
A spokesperson for the government agency said: "This identified the option of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle as one of twenty-one potential transport interventions for further consideration through our Strategic Transport Projects Review.
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss potential joint funding for a detailed consideration of cross borders transport links that would align with the outcomes of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review, once it is completed."
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