Borders Railway carries more than 1m passengers in first year

It is exactly one year since the Borders Railway started carrying passengers between Edinburgh and Tweedbank.

In that time, trains on the route have carried more than 1 million passengers.

Critics say there has been too many delays and cancellations on the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank but Scotrail insists the anniversary is a milestone worth celebrating.

The operator's spokesman Rob Shorthouse told Forth News, "We are amazed by the fact that we are well over 1 million passenger journeys since we opened up the line.

"These are people that we have taken off the roads. It is an extraordinary achievement.

"There have been difficulties, but we are working really hard to make it better. But the important thing to remember is that a year ago this line wasn't there and people were having to use the roads to get up and down to Edinburgh."

The Campaign for Borders Rail, which played a key role in the restoration of the service said the first anniversary is an occasion to look to the future.

Retired railway manager, Allan McLean, chairs the Campaign and said he is hopeful the line will be developed further.

He told us, "Extension would follow enhancement of the existing Borders Railway, with lessons learned from previous experience to prepare for a positive future.

“Official studies into the potential for future extension of rail services to bring direct benefits to even more places should be seen as just the beginning of the next stage of railway development in the Scottish Borders.

“I appreciate that it will take time to extend the railway. In the meantime, there is an opportunity to enhance the existing service to make it more reliable.

"Cancellations and delays to the current trains must not hinder future development.

"In fact, recent experience can inform the future so that lessons are learned to maximise the very real benefits that a reliable train service can bring."

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