Borders Railway Extension Feasibility Study Gets Green Light

The UK will provide up to £5m for a rail study. Scotland will match this funding amount. They will assess extending the Borders Railway. They will also appoint a project manager. This manager will weigh the pros and cons of this plan.

The current railway goes from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. Extending it means going all the way to Carlisle. A South Scotland MSP, Colin Smyth, is happy about this news. Extending the railway could help the local economy. It would also connect communities.

Smyth thinks the route should include Langholm. This would link a key population to the railway line. The Borders Railway is already a success. A Carlisle extension makes sense, he stated. Extending the railway is a long-term campaign. Communities are uniting to support it.

People see many economic benefits from this railway. Smyth believes Langholm’s inclusion is important. The surrounding communities would gain an advantage, too. A Langholm stop would greatly benefit the Eskdale area. This local economy has struggled recently.