The new Borders Railway rout has entered its final phase of installation with the end of the line in sight.
Following a break over the Christmas and New Year period the works to complete the Borders railway commenced today (Mon 12 January).
Around 34 miles of track, including three double track sections, have been laid since the rail installation machine started its journey down the route last year after Transport Minister Keith Brown and Network Rail CEO Mark Carne got the track-laying activity officially underway at the new Shawfair station on 9 October.
Hugh Wark, project director, Network Rail, said: “This final phase of the rail installation works will see the final 5 miles of the route completed between Ferniehurst and Tweedbank.
“Once the rail is fully installed much of the construction support deliveries will be able to be taken off the roads and delivered directly down the route by rail. This means that residents and road users should see the number of Heavy Goods Vehicles and plant machinery on the roads reduced in the coming months.
“We still have a lot of work to carry out ahead of the project’s summer completion date but we are at a very exciting point in the project, with only eight months to go until the line is fully operational.”
