MP and MSP muster show of support for Borders Railway extension bid after doubts aired

Borders MP and MSP John Lamont and Rachael Hamilton have reaffirmed their support for moves to revive the old Waverley railway line following doubts being aired about the practicality of such a project.
A Borders Railway train at Stow station.A Borders Railway train at Stow station.
A Borders Railway train at Stow station.

That show of support by the Conservative pair was prompted by an opinion piece in last week’s Southern by Melrose financial analyst Robert Miller-Bakewell calling into question the viability of extending the Borders Railway into England.

Mr Miller-Bakewell, deputy chairman of the Scottish Borders Conservative and Unionist Association but writing in a personal capacity, listed various issues he considers likely to derail such plans.

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He also queried the provisional price-tag of about £750m suggested by the Campaign for Borders Rail for the extra 65 miles or so track needed to link Tweedbank with Carlisle, suggesting that a figure in excess of £1bn would be more realistic.

Robert Miller-Bakewell's controversial comment piece in last week's Southern.Robert Miller-Bakewell's controversial comment piece in last week's Southern.
Robert Miller-Bakewell's controversial comment piece in last week's Southern.

On top of that, he suggested that the £10m earmarked for a feasibility study weighing up the case for an extension as part of the UK and Scottish governments’ £395m Borderlands growth deal would be better spent on repairing the region’s roads.

Not only were those reservations dismissed as ill informed by campaign chairman Simon Walton in a breakout piece on the same page, though, but they have now also come in for criticism from Mr Lamont and Mrs Hamilton.

The former, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, hit back, saying: “I was disappointed to see that so many column inches were dedicated to rubbishing plans for the extension to the Borders Railway.

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“The railway extension enjoys cross-party support in the Borders, as well as support from the local councils.

“Similarly, it is my view that most local people in the Borders are supportive of the Borders Railway and improved public transport across the region.

“No infrastructure project is easy or without difficulty. That goes without saying.

“However, it is clear that this project would bring huge benefit to Newcastleton and Hawick and the surrounding communities.

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“It would improve connectivity and greatly enhance job opportunities.

“I am delighted the UK Government and ministers are fully signed up to a feasibility study for a project that will benefit both sides of the border economically and environmentally.”

The latter, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, agrees, saying: “It is a shame to see this attempt to undermine the fantastic work of the Campaign for Borders Rail, who have always made clear arguments for the initial reopening of the route as well as its full extension to Hawick and on to Carlisle.

“I don’t think anyone could reasonably say that reopening a rail route that has been shut for many decades is easy. That doesn’t mean to say that we should just give up.

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“Now more than ever, we need show commitment to our Borderlands region.

“I wholeheartedly support a feasibility study funded through the Borderlands growth deal to extend the Borders Railway through Hawick and on to Carlisle.

“In a post-Covid-19 world, the argument to invest significantly in an integrated transport network that supports employment growth, climate change and provides opportunities for great social inclusion becomes much stronger.”

Scottish Borders Council leader Shona Haslam, a fellow Tory, added: “Let me be absolutely clear – it is the policy of Scottish Borders Council, working in partnership with the Scottish and Westminster governments, to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle via Hawick and Newcastleton.

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“The article published in the Southern Reporter is an individual opinion that is not shared by myself, my party or my group in the council.

“This approach is outdated and does not take account of the huge success of the railway in bringing economic success and prosperity to the whole of the Borders.

“The council is fully committed to building on this success and welcomes the ongoing commitments of the UK Government and Scottish Government to realising that goal.”

The forthcoming feasibility study forms part of a strategic transport projects review by the Scottish Government due to yield a report early next year.

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Extending the £353m Borders Railway, opened in September 2015, to Hawick, via Melrose, would add about 17 miles to its current 30-mile length, and carrying on to Carlisle, via Newcastleton, recreating the old Waverley Route closed in 1969 as part of a nationwide cost-cutting drive, would require another 50-plus miles of track on top of that.