Work has begun on the Borders Railway in Scotland, UK, which will reopen a rail line between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders for the first time in 40 years.
The ВЈ235–295m ($353–444m) railway linking Edinburgh and Tweedbank covers 35 miles, featuring ten stops and seven new stations and is expected to be complete by 2014.
Construction follows the activation of the Waverley Rail Act 2006, a legislation that means once work has begun the entire link between Edinburgh and Tweedbank must be completed.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the new line would act as a catalyst for economic growth across southern Scotland.
It is estimated that the railway will cut CO2 emissions by 435,000t over a 60-year period, and reduce the number of road accidents on the A7 and A68 trunk roads by nearly ten accidents every year.
The project is to be designed, built and financed and maintained by a newly created, Transport Scotland-backed non-profit company.
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