Campaigners say they fear all the line may not be built

MSPs approved the bill this week restoring the link between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, near Galashiels.

The leader of Save Scott's Countryside claims cost-capping and business case requirements could stop the entire scheme being completed.

During debate of the bill, however, the Scottish Executive underlined its commitment to building the whole line.

Nicholas Watson, who leads the countryside campaign group, insisted the Holyrood vote could mean nothing.

There is no way that this railway will be built to budget and we are pretty certain it will fall Nicholas Watson Save Scott's Countryside

"There was a great political show of the Scottish Executive's support for the Borders but they made two things very clear," he said.

"One was that they won't provide the funds if the business case isn't seen to be holding up.

"The other thing is that they won't provide a penny more than they originally promised."

Mr Watson - who opposes the major housing developments which are part of the business case - said those were key conditions.

"There is no way that this railway will be built to budget and we are pretty certain it will fall," he said.

The Scottish Parliament has agreed a �155m budget for the plans.

Work is expected to start shortly and the line is scheduled to open in 2011.