LATEST figures show that more and more people are using the Borders Railway.

The statistics from Office of Rail and Road reveal the entries and exits at all Borders stations continue to grow.

The 2018/19 usage tables show that 443,766 (up 1.6 percent) used Tweedbank in the 12 months, 360,416 (up 1.2 percent) used Galashiels, and Stow 71,222 (up two percent) used Stow.

Barry Links in Angus was Scotland's least used station with just 122 entries and exits, while Glasgow Central was the most used with nearly 32.8 million.

Across the UK London Waterloo remains the most used station in the UK, with more than 94 million entries and exits in the last year.

Local MP John Lamont has welcomed the Borders figures.

He believes they represent another boost for the case for extending the railway to Hawick and then onto Newcastleton and Carlisle.

He said: “More and more Borderers seem to be using the railway which is great news for our environment and for reducing congestion on our roads.

“Tweedbank has by far the largest usage figures with almost 450,000 entries and exits.

“I know that for many people living in the southern Borders this is their closest station so this is no surprise.

“However, this shows that there is a definite need for an extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and then onto Newcastleton and Carlisle.

“I am pressing ministers at a UK level to ensure that the extension of the railway remains at the top of the pile.”