(S3O-8127) Borders Railway

11. Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the project to reopen the Waverley railway line linking Midlothian and the Borders with Edinburgh. (S3O-8127)

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):





Good progress continues with the necessary procurement development for the main works, which will benefit from the acceleration of the utilities and advance works. Recent market testing has revealed that contractors and financial investment organisations still continue to express a strong interest in the project.

All land and property required to construct the works have been successfully acquired, and design works and ground and structural surveys have also been completed. Preparatory work to allow major utilities and advance works to be undertaken over the next two years is well under way, with utilities diversion works due to start before the end of the current financial year.

Rhona Brankin: At the moment, my constituents in Midlothian, where most of the new stations on the Waverley line will be situated, do not have access to a local railway service and many are concerned by the Scottish Government's recent silence on the subject. Given the recent scrapping of the Glasgow airport rail link just months after he said that he remained committed to the project, can the minister unequivocally tell the chamber that the Waverley line will reopen as promised in 2013? Will he provide members with an updated cost projection for the project?

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Unchanged.