Fresh calls have been made to extend the route of the Borders Railway from its terminus at Tweedbank towards Hawick and Carlisle.

 

This Friday marks the first year anniversary since The Queen officially reopened a near 50km stretch of line south from Edinburgh.

 

To mark the occasion the Campaign for Borders Rail and local MP Callum Kerr have urged for the line to be continued on into England.

 

The Campaign’s chairman Allan McLean said there is a strong case for extending the line to benefit more communities. He added: “It would be great to see trains running again between Edinburgh and Carlisle through Hawick for the first time since closure in 1969.”

 

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Callum Kerr added: “The opening of the longest new domestic rail route in the UK in more than 100 years was a wonderful moment to celebrate, but I sincerely hope it was just a beginning. Getting the line to Tweedbank was a landmark, but in reality many people in the Borders feel that it's only half a line.

 

“Ultimately the restoration of the Waverley Line is what the Borders wants and needs. The good news is we do have cross party support on this issue and I hope to secure a Westminster Hall debate on the case for extending the line, to allow us to properly consider the great potential of this project in Parliament.”

 

Network Rail said there are currently no plans to extend the Borders Railway but a spokesman added there is room for improvement to overcome issues with signalling and service provision.

 

Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker said: “The Council supports the proposal to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick and then on to Carlisle. We have been working with the Scottish Government and other partners supporting delivery of the Borders Railway Blueprint which has a clear commitment to scope a feasibility study. The Council was delighted that the Scottish Government has committed to delivering this work and we look forward to beginning the process of considering how to make an extension a reality.”

 

Work to reopen the Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank involved building seven new stations. The route passes beneath the A720 Edinburgh city bypass, over a new 120m long concrete bridge near Dalkeith and is carried by the 23 arch Lothianbridge viaduct at Newbattle, which was brought back into use with minimal repairs.

 

Towards the southern end of the route trains pass once again inside the 200m long Bowshank Tunnel near Galashiels.