There has been real progress in the campaign from the local Scottish Conservative MSP, MP and council group to deliver an extension to the Borders Railway.
It has been confirmed by Scottish Borders Council that the UK and Scottish governments will provide matching funds of £5 million each for a feasibility study on the extension of the route to Hawick, Newcastleton and onto Carlisle.
A Project Manager will also be appointed to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the line beyond Tweedbank.
It comes after John Lamont MP pushed for the Labour government to agree to progress the Borders Railway extension in a speech to the House of Commons on 8 January
The Borders MP led a debate in the UK Parliament on transport links between Scotland and the UK, during which he raised the importance of the railway extension to Hawick, Newcastleton and onto Carlisle.
Rachael Hamilton MSP also recently wrote to Labour's Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, to urge the government to release funding for the feasibility study
Scottish Conservative councillors in the Borders have also been instrumental in pushing for the project to go ahead.
Scottish Borders MSP, Rachael Hamilton, said: "It is outstanding news that the Borders Railway extension will finally move forward to the next stage.
"After many years of campaigning, the Scottish Conservatives are delighted to see real progress on this vital project.
"The extension could be a game-changer for the local economy and a major improvement to our transport network, so hopefully it can happen in the near future."
