As part of the first stage of feasibility work on the Borders Railway Tweedbank-Carlisle proposal, there’s now an opportunity for members of the public to have their say about the transport needs of the area. Click on the link https://ow.ly/VwvC50ZJG98”

Electrification masts are now starting to appear on the Borders Railway in preparation for the introduction of “battery-electric trains by the early 2030s, aiming to provide greener, more reliable, and more comfortable journeys for passengers.”

Although the main photo attached to this article doesn’t show any of the new masts, embedded within the full text of the Borders Telegraph article are several more photos which do feature the masts.

The appointment of WSP as consultants for first stage of the Borders Railway feasibility work is covered by the Border Telegraph.

Our previous post concerned the press release issued by Scottish Borders Council, the local authority leading the feasibility process for extending the Borders Railway to Hawick and completing it through to Carlisle.

The main thrust of the press release was that WSP have been appointed as consultants for the Strategic Outline Business Case.

In an article in The Herald newspaper, Cllr Scott Hamilton, SBC’s executive member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, is quoted:
“The support from WSP will help ensure the Strategic Outline Business Case is thorough, evidence-led and focused on the long-term benefits for communities and economic growth across the region.”

Jake Cartmell, Project Director at WSP, notes that “Our focus will be on providing robust, evidence-led advice to help inform the Strategic Outline Business Case, considering the transport, environmental and economic factors that will shape the long-term case for investment.”

This news release was issued today (2 July 2026) by Scottish Borders Council:

Consultants appointed for next step in Borders Railway work

Scottish Borders Council is pleased to announce that it has concluded the tendering process to bring in specialist consultancy support to help deliver the first stage of business case work required for the proposed extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle.

Following an evaluation process that has taken place over the past few weeks, we can confirm that the consultancy group WSP has been successful in winning the two packages of work that were recently advertised.

This work includes:
A transport appraisal which will help us to develop a shortlist for a preferred option for the corridor and some high-level associated feasibility work; and

A growth prospectus which will look at other economic related opportunities in the area that will help to develop the strongest case possible.

This work will contribute to the first stage of the business case process, the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC). This is the first of three stages which will help to evaluate the potential benefits of developing better transport provision in Southern Scotland and Northern England.

The SOBC work will take approximately 18 months to complete and is funded by both the UK and Scottish Governments through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council Executive Member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, said: “This appointment marks another important step forward in the work to develop the case for extending the Borders Railway. The support from WSP will help ensure the Strategic Outline Business Case is thorough, evidence-led and focused on the long-term benefits for communities and economic growth across the region.”

Jake Cartmell, Project Director at WSP, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting Scottish Borders Council on this important next stage of work to explore future transport enhancements in the corridor between Tweedbank and Carlisle, including the potential extension of the Borders Railway.

“Our focus will be on providing robust, evidence-led advice to help inform the Strategic Outline Business Case, considering the transport, environmental and economic factors that will shape the long-term case for investment. This is an important opportunity to look carefully at how improved connectivity could support communities, businesses and sustainable growth across the Borderlands region.”

If you wish to receive our newsletter, please join CBR. Details at campaignforbordersrail.org/support/

Friday is Hawick Paper day, and in today’s edition (26 June) the “Grumpy Auld Man” asks what’s going on with the railway feasibility study. He writes “I’m told full consultancy work will start ‘soon’…[and] earlier pledges to be more transparent with regular public updates hasn’t materialised, at least so far.”

Peter Heubeck, Campaign for Borders Rail’s Technical Advisor provided an update on progress in the Campaign’s June newsletter.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) agreed a three-stage approach to the feasibility study with its funders, Transport Scotland and the
Department for Transport.

The three stages are:-
(1) Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC)
(2) Outline Business Case
(3) Final Business Case

Peter writes :

“SBC issued Invitations to Tender to six major consultancies for two important pieces of work.
The first is the SOBC element of the feasibility study, while the second is an economic development strategy for the study corridor from
the Central Borders to Carlisle. The latter will give a properly researched
economic development context against which options generated by the SOBC can be judged.
The consultancy firms submitted their bids in late April and news of contract awards by SBC is expected soon. This will be a key
milestone and we shall cover the issue in detail in the [CBR’s] next newsletter.”

If you wish to receive our newsletter, please join CBR. Details at campaignforbordersrail.org/support/

Newsletter 80 has just been published by Campaign for Borders Rail, and it has been sent out to members by email or post.

Peter Heubeck writes about how the Campaign will engages with the newly elected Scottish Parliament and with politicians across the political spectrum.

CBR’s Chair, Marion Short, gives an account of recent activities, and especially conversations with Lisa Scott, head teacher of Hawick High School. Lisa has provided an article for this newsletter outlining how the extended Borders Railway could improve the prospects for her students, by “creating a Borders where every young person can access the opportunities they deserve, while still having the choice to build they futures in the communities they proudly call home’.

Our Technical Adviser Peter Heubeck explains the process currently underway to provide ‘discontinuous electrification’ on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank railway.

There’s a short update on progress with the feasibility study.

Next an account of the recent annual conference of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, where both David Hope-Jones and Cllr Euan Jardine highlighted the importance of extending the Borders Railway.

Finally Greg Cuthbert’s piece entitled ‘Connecting communities, creating opportunities’ refers to the travel needs of Newcastleton and why completing line to Carlisle is so important for this relatively isolated community.

If you’re not already a member of Campaign for Borders Rail, you’ll find details of how to join us at https://campaignforbordersrail.org/support/

Peter Heubeck, CBR’s Technical Advisor, recently gave a presentation to the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the content of which appears in the latest CILT Journal Focus

Borders MSP Rachael Hamilton has written to the new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn, calling for him to accelerate the Borders Railway project and make it “a priority”.

She has also invited Mr Flynn to visit the Borders to meet with local stakeholders, including Campaign for Borders Rail, to hear first-hand about the opportunities this investment would create, and to discuss how progress can be accelerated

https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/26153448.msp-calls-accelerate-borders-railway-extension-carlisle/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSXnPNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeYXUz4__qU0vaCwfGCi6-WzyDEOomnAsjUlWUWaXDuH2w5uICaIEQVy_tyXQ_aem_vDTDwqskDlHPopA0SS3zdA

This new webpage has been launched by SBC to improve communication and public engagement surrounding the Feasibility Study for the Borders Railway extension to Hawick and Carlisle. Divided into five sections, the page will cover:-

1 – Tweedbank to Hawick and Carlisle

2 – Project Overview

3 – Resources and Documentation

4 – Stakeholder Engagement

5 – FAQs

Use the link below to keep up to date with the Project news

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/public-community-transport/borders-railway