APPROVAL has been granted to begin the next phase of work to explore the case for extending the Borders railway to Carlisle.
The Scottish Borders Council said that the extension could improve transport links to towns such as Hawick as well as offering improved connectivity for tourists, commuters, and residents.
Extending the railway through the heart of the Borderlands could also provide more environmentally friendly transport connections for the places and towns along the route, the local authority added.
A project manager will now be appointed to work to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the line beyond Tweedbank, with this stage drawing on the first tranche of up to £10 million committed by the Scottish Government and UK Government through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
UK Government Scotland office minister Kirsty McNeill said, “Growth is a priority mission for the UK Government and we’ve been clear that the £450 million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal spanning southern Scotland and northern England is vital to achieving this.
“It’s great news that the UK Department for Transport has now confirmed up to £5 million towards feasibility work to explore the potential to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Carlisle. We look forward to working with deal partners as the feasibility work progresses.
“The UK Government is focused on delivering our Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth and deliver a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all. This includes investing nearly £1.4 billion into important local projects across Scotland over the next ten years, including the borders.”
Scottish Government cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop added, “The Scottish Government believes in strong investment in public transport and looks forward to the 10th anniversary of the Borders railway later this year, which will be a celebration of the transformation it has delivered to this region.
“We remain committed to providing up to £5 million for this business case work as part of our £65 million investment in the region through the Borderlands deal. We welcome the news that the UK Government will now match our commitment of up to £5 million for a feasibility study to extend the Borders Railway and are supportive of partners securing a project manager with the technical expertise to deliver the project well.”
