POLITICIANS have joined campaigners to show a united front in the bid to take trains all the way from Tweedbank to Carlisle.

Grassroots group Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR) held their 19th AGM in Hawick at the weekend.

Around 200 people turned out for the meeting at Hawick High School on Saturday where a “question time” session saw a panel face questions on plans for the future of the railway.

Included in the panel was John Lamont MP, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, academic Brian Eaton, leader of the Scottish Borders Council Shona Haslam; Carlisle MP John Stevenson and former chair of the Friends of the Carlisle and Settle Line, Richard Morris.

And the consensus from the stage was for the extension of the Borders Railway to be progressed as soon as possible.

CBR chairman Simon Walton, who hosted the public event, said: “We invited panellists from all facets of political and civic life to join us at our nineteenth annual general meeting, and they were able to demonstrate that whatever ideological differences they may have, they were in no conflict over the benefits of being part of the national rail network.”

“That politicians demonstrated they are united behind the project, proves how far we’ve come.”

The meeting also heard that the Scottish Government had decided to take forward two rail-based proposals from the recent Borders Transport Corridors Study, identifying Tweedbank to Carlisle as an option for exploration, as well as noting a possible link to the East Coast Main Line.

Simon continued: “The Campaign remains committed to the re-establishment of the former ‘Waverley Route’ as the best and most achievable outcome.

“The bottom line is that a new rail service through Hawick and the Scottish Borders will go a long way towards solving many of the economic and social challenges faced by the region.

“It will be the most tangible and achievable way to kick-start that regeneration process, and bring about the best return on investment for the benefit of the widest possible cross-section of the community.”

At the event, panellist and academic Brian Eaton gave examples of sparsely populated areas generating larger than expected traffic flow due to the availability of rail services. He gave the example of National Park station in New Zealand which, despite a low resident population, is among the busiest places on the North Island due to its accessibility by train.

Shona Haslam, leader of Scottish Borders Council, emphasised the collateral benefits to communities around the Borders of having closer proximity to rail services.

Richard Morris, the former chair of the Friends of the Carlisle and Settle Line, recounted how that Borders line had helped support enterprise in the rural economy.

John Stevenson, the Carlisle MP, and “champion” of the Borderlands Growth Initiative reiterated his support for funding of a full feasibility study.

Simon said: “Having the stated support of the new cross-border agency is a vital step forward. The Campaign and its members must take credit for pushing that agenda forward.

“John Stevenson did all but pull out his agency’s cheque book, and Paul Wheelhouse reminded us that, while the current agenda puts extension several years down the road, it’s up to the Campaign to be ready to present the case for the Borders Railway extension in the eventually of circumstances changing.

“Our policy of informed and rational advocacy has served us well thus far and will serve the Borders well in the future. We’re closer now than ever to seeing everyone’s ambition achieved.”