Just over six months remain until the new Borders Railway opens, which last week saw the completion of track installation.

Around 48km of rail has been laid on the project, making it the longest domestic railway to be built in Britain for over a century.

The new line is expected to open in September, re-establishing passenger services from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank for the first time in more than 40 years.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Keith Brown joined the project team to clip the final length of rail into place. He said: “The reopening of this line offers a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a major economic and social boost for the communities it will serve.”

Since track laying began in October last year, more than 1000 rails have been placed across 90,000 sleepers using a specialist rail installation machine (pictured).

The project team will now focus on completing ballast spreading, tamping and welding on the track, installing signalling and communications equipment and completing the construction and fit out of seven new stations.

These stations will be located at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.

Network Rail’s project director for the Borders Railway Hugh Wark said: “While we still have a significant amount of infrastructure to complete along the route, we are confident that this much anticipated addition to Scotland’s railway will be delivered on schedule.”

The new railway is expected to deliver economic and social development opportunities to the region – connecting people to jobs and housing.

(Photo: Borders Rail)