WaverleyRoute'more importanthanever'

THECampaignfor Borders Rail(CBRc)laimsthe casefor extendingthe BordersRailway through Hawickto Carlisle is'strongerthan ever'asthe regionlooksto recoverfrom the Covid-19crisis.

"Buildingthe newcross-border rail rink isthe mostimportant post-coronavirusprojectwe can undertaketo redefineourselves;' saysCBRchairmanSimonWalton.

In a radicalrestatementof the group'spolicy,it hasexpanded its aimsbeyondreopeningthe line to servethe communityand facilitateeconomicregeneration, and iscallingfor the route, closedin 1969,to playa keyrole in deliveringgreatercapacity and cleaner,moresustainable transportfor the whole of the UK.

Mr Waltonadded: "Governmentson both sides of the border,and elected representativefsrom all political persuasionsa,re united in the understandingthat economic developmentisvital if thereisto be a meaningfulrecovery.

"Infrastructurethat demonstrablysupportsboth commerceand communityis the bestwayto investin that recovery.

"Theevidenceof the success of the BordersRailwaygives precedento the businesscase madeby the campaign:'

Tweedbankmay be the end of the line at present,but pressureisgrowingto reinstate the remainingsectionof the BordersRailwayto Carlisle. Campaigners aynot only couldit forgea new routeto Edinburgh,but alsoopen up the Bordersareato increased tourismand commercial opportunities.CHRISMILNER