STEEL masts are being installed along the Borders railway as the project to electrify the line progresses.
The £26.2 million Scottish Government investment will see 13km of the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank electrified, ahead of the arrival of battery-electric trains in the early 2030s.
Work began in March, with teams focused on installing the foundations for 350 new overhead line structures. Around half are now complete, with work moving on to erecting the steel masts and support arms – with most of the work happening at night.
Much of the preparation for electrification was completed before the railway reopened in 2015. Bridges, stations, and other infrastructure were designed with future electrification in mind, reducing the need for major reconstruction work today.
Lynsey Maclean, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said, “This is an exciting stage of the project because people can now start to see the railway changing. A huge amount of work has gone into planning and building the foundations, much of it behind the scenes, so seeing these new structures appear is a real achievement.
“What makes this project unique is that many of the decisions needed for electrification were taken when the railway was rebuilt more than a decade ago. That means we’re able to deliver this significant upgrade with far less disruption than would otherwise have been needed. We know the Borders Railway plays an important role in communities across the region. We’re making good progress in this next phase, and I’d like to thank passengers and our neighbours for their patience and understanding as work continues over the coming months.”
