TALKS have taken place on extending the new Borders railway as far as Carlisle.
Infrastructure minister Keith Brown has confirmed that Transport Scotland officials have discussed a feasibility study on linking the rail line with Carlisle, through Hawick.
News of the discussions emerged in response to a parliamentary question tabled by MSP Jim Hume.
The new 30-mile Borders Railway is expected to open in September. The line
Mr Brown said: "Transport Scotland officials have already met with partners and offered initial advice on a scoping document which will explore the possibility of extending the Borders railway towards Hawick and Carlisle."
The announcement was welcomed by the Lib Dem MSP for the south of Scotland.
Mr Hume said: "I have no doubt that such a project would greatly benefit communities not just in the Borders but also in Dumfriesshire, and would draw even further on the already clear tourism opportunities from the line reaching Tweedbank.
"Local campaigners such as the Campaign for Borders Rail have kept the focus on this issue and this positive response from the Scottish government must now be the building blocks for progress on an extended rail link.
"I will continue to encourage Ministers to drive the initiative forward."
The £350 million project is almost complete, with the first passenger services due to run on the Waverley line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, south of Galashiels, for the first time in 50 years from September 6.
The line was one of the most notorious Beeching cuts when it was axed in 1969 and although the full length stretched to Carlisle, only the northern third has been resurrected.
Training runs for drivers is due to get underway next week, when they will have to complete four return journeys a day.
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