Dunlop presses SNP on Borders Railway extension

Scottish Liberal Democrat South of Scotland MSP Duncan Dunlop has today asked the SNP government whether it will commit to a clear timeline for funding an extension of the Borders Railway.

When in government, Scottish Liberal Democrats brought forward legislation for the Borders Railway.

This work led to the opening of the line between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank in September 2015.

A business case for extending the Borders Railway from Hawick to Carlisle is due by late 2027.

In their manifesto, Scottish Liberal Democrats committed to working with stakeholders, including the Campaign for Borders Rail, on a potential extension of the route from Hawick to Carlisle.

Speaking in parliament, Duncan Dunlop said:

“Bill McLaren famously said that a day out of Hawick was a day wasted. He would surely have championed extending the Borders Railway to Hawick, and beyond to Carlisle, opening the region to visitors, businesses and investment.

“Back in the 2010s, indeed, it was the Liberal Democrats who delivered the reintroduction of the railway to the Borders.

“Cabinet Secretary, while I welcome the feasibility study that is underway, campaigners have been kept waiting on the platform for too long.

“They are frustrated by the timescales, by the three phases of that process. Please can you give a commitment to when there will be clear timescales to get this project off the drawing board and onto the rails?"

Speaking after the exchange, he said:

“The Cabinet Secretary failed to say when this extension might be up and running.

"In government, in the face of opposition from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats had to battle to get the Borders Railway off the ground. We will continue to be a strong voice for enhancing connections across the region.

“The extension of the Borders Railway could be invaluable in supporting communities, businesses and growth across the region. It would transform access to the Borders, especially with Center Parcs opening near Hawick. It’s also an obvious way of linking up the Borders with some of its closest neighbours, including by providing a gateway to the economic powerhouses of the North West of England.

“The last thing we need is more prevarication. The SNP need to be clear about when this project is going to get up and running.”