Unlocked: Key appointment to help build business case for extending the Borders Railway
Last updated 11th Apr 2025
A global project management firm is set to take charge of building the business case for extending the Borders Railway.
According to its website, Turner and Townsend is also involved with MetroLink - the largest single public transport project ever undertaken in the Republic of Ireland; and the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program - a project to meet the increasing demand for rail transport in the Australian state.
The company, which is headquartered in Leeds, also has a previous track record for working with Network Rail on critical infrastructure improvements, such as the Leicester Station Gateway project and Peterborough Station Quarter.
Scottish Borders Council confirmed the appointment this afternoon (Friday).
Leader Euan Jardine describes it as a "really significant development, that will allow important groundwork to be undertaken" in efforts to restore the line between the current rail terminus in Tweedbank, and Carlisle.
READ MORE: Woman, 65, dies following house fire in the Scottish Borders
It comes just weeks after we reported that up to £10 million of funding had finally been released for a feasibility study - four years after it was first pledged as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
The key appointment will allow several pieces of work to be carried out on the project to assess the benefits and challenges of the railway line’s extension, including feasibility work and analysis of the economic impact.
READ MORE: Should traffic lights be installed on the Holy Island causeway to stop motorists getting stranded?
A spokesperson for the local authority said: "Following the success of the re-instatement of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, an extension could improve transport links to towns such as Hawick, which continue to face the effects of recent economic downturns, as well as offering improved connectivity for tourists, commuters and residents alike.
"This has been made possible through funding of up to £10million from the UK and Scottish Governments, through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, designed to drive inclusive growth and delivering significant and lasting benefits through regeneration.
"Extending the railway through the heart of the Borderlands could also provide more environmentally friendly transport connections for the places and towns along the route."
The latest development comes after it was revealed trains on the Borders Railway are the most overcrowded on the ScotRail network - with passengers packed on to some services "like sardines".
Councillor Jardine said: “The tireless work done by the Borderlands Partnership and the local community up until now has made this progress possible and now we will be able to make significant strides forward in clearly outlining the potential benefits an extension of the line could deliver for the local economy and the region as a whole.”
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/
Rayo Premium