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Wednesday 22 Jun 2016

Innovative award win for Borders Railway

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

The new Borders Railway won Most Innovative Project at this year's Scottish Transport Awards.

The awards recognise excellence and innovation across all sectors of transport in Scotland and the judges remarked on Borders’ 'phenomenal demand' since opening and its influence in 'growing the economy' in the south east.

The £294m Borders Railway re-established a passenger rail link for the first time in over 40 years from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in September last year.

The project included the installation of 30 miles of new railway and seven new stations as well as the upgrading and building of supporting infrastructure.

The new railway, the longest domestic line built in over a century, welcomed more than 500,000 passengers within the first five months of its opening.

The ScotRail Alliance’s work in Winchburgh Tunnel was also highly commended in the Most Innovative Project and Transport Team/Partnership of the Year categories. 

Phil Verster, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the delivery of Borders Railway on being awarded Most Innovative Project.

“This is a fantastic and very well deserved accolade for a project that has brought so much to local communities along the line of route. Over 500,000 passengers have travelled on Borders railway since the start of service and its popularity continues to grow as we connect more people to employment, tourism and leisure opportunities in the area.”

Scottish Transport Minister HumzaYousaf, who presented the awards, said: “It’s a tremendous honour to address the Scottish Transport Awards and properly recognise the unsung heroes across the transport sector and in our communities. The people who for example work unsociable hours in challenging weather conditions all year round to keep our buses, trains, planes and roads running.”