 MSPs have voted in favour of reopening the line |
MSPs have agreed in principle to back the reopening of the Waverley railway line between Edinburgh and the Borders. Scottish Borders and Midlothian councils were seeking approval for a bill authorising the 35-mile line which would cost an estimated �150m.
Despite concerns about the project, MSPs approved the general principles of the bill by 102 votes with none against and one abstention.
The previous line closed more than 30 years ago.
The scheme has been hit by a list of problems which have delayed it for up to a year and MSPs expressed their own concerns during Wednesday's debate.
Labour backbencher Christine May, who refused to back it, abstained.
 |  If parliament agrees to this I want it to do so with its eyes wide open and with the rose tinted steam from the engine firmly wiped off |
Ministers, who will fund the railway with up to �115m, gave assurances that they would keep a close eye on how the project panned out financially.
Nationalist MSP Tricia Marwick, convener of the Holyrood committee scrutinising the bill, said there was concern over a requirement to provide 10,000 houses in Midlothian and the Borders by 2011.
"Not meeting the targets by 2011 will have a detrimental effect on the project's viability," said Ms Marwick.
She added: "While the executive believes the business case does stack up in terms of overall value for money the committee is not convinced by the conclusion that the railway will operate subsidy-free and will be making an operating profit within six years of opening.
"Neither was the Strategic Rail Authority convinced."
SNP transport spokesman Fergus Ewing questioned whether Scottish Borders Council was able to continue driving the bill.
'White elephant'
The Borders railway, which ran to Carlisle, closed in 1969 leaving Midlothian and the Borders as the only regions on the British mainland without a railway station.
 The bill was agreed in principle by 102 votes with one abstention |
The railway, which would run from just south of Newcraighall in Edinburgh, would also include stations at Shawfair, Eskbank and Newtongrange.
Tory Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Ted Brocklebank and East Lothian Labour MSP John Home Robertson questioned whether the project would turn out to be a "white elephant".
Ms May, MSP for Central Fife, added: "If parliament agrees to this I want it to do so with its eyes wide open and with the rose-tinted steam from the engine firmly wiped off."
Labour backbencher Des McNulty urged fellow MSPs not to allow "sentiment" or "politics" to take over from logic.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said he took concerns of the project's financial position very seriously.
He added: "The people of Midlothian and the Borders look to this parliament to invest in their communities.
"The railway will provide a vital link to the economic growth of Edinburgh and the fragile economy of the Borders.
"It will provide a sustainable alternative to car travel and it will expand the labour force for Edinburgh businesses, fuelling a cycle of continued economic strength that benefits all of Scotland."
Nationalist South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame said the executive should meet the entire cost of the project.
Chris Ballance, Green MSP for South of Scotland, said, "This proposal is the best on offer, so Greens support it, but it is in fact deeply flawed.
"This is not the Borders railway that we need. It is a Galashiels to Edinburgh commuter link.
"However, it is vital that we put the Borders on the railway map of Britain."
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