Study recommends investigating benefits of extending Borders Railway to Berwick and Carlisle

More than twenty recommendations, that could help shape the future of transport in The Borders, are being driven forward.

The Borders Transport Corridors Study has today published details of 21 options that could bring benefits to the area.

As well as proposals for better bus links to neighbouring cities and hospitals, the report also includes a recommendation to investigation the potential benefits of exending the Borders Railway both south to Carlisle and east to Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

It includes the options of creating better park and ride facilities at Tweedbank and Stow, and including more through services to Fife and a potential future link to Glasgow.

The study is also recommends the partial dualling of the A7 and A68, with average speed cameras at accident blackspots between Newtown and Lauder, and Galashiels and Stow.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “The Borders Transport Corridors Study fulfils our commitment to consider the future transport needs of the area.

“We have already committed to rail stations at East Linton and Reston and these will be delivered as part of work to improve capacity to Edinburgh. We will now go on to consider a further twenty-one options as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), which is being taken forward during the lifetime of this Parliament. 

“The Projects Review is a nationwide appraisal to identify where improvements are needed and guide investment in Scotland’s transport infrastructure over the next two decades. The recommendations made in this study – which are underpinned by detailed evidence on problems and opportunities – will help ensure the case is made for improvements in The Borders.

“We look forward to building on the successful partnerships that we have developed as part of the study as we move forward with the next stage of this important work."

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