The first slice of funding for the Waverley line has been confirmed

Transport Minister Tavish Scott has announced the allocation of �29m to allow work, including surveying and land purchase to take place.

The executive has promised a total of �115m at 2002 prices to the project.

It is hoped trains will be running from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, just beyond Galashiels, by 2011.

Mr Scott said the funding would help ensure that the line opened on schedule.

It is very important to me as transport minister that we hold to our budget and hold to our timetable Tavish Scott Transport minister

"This initial money will begin the process of the railway," he said.

"It will be for the promoters to lay out their plans in respect of the initial �29m which begins the process of the railway.

"We aim to deliver the railway against the timescale that parliament approved earlier this year.

"It is very important that we keep to timescale and we keep to budget."

'Absolute confidence'

The announcement was warmly welcomed by Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker.

"I have said from day one that I have absolute confidence that it will appear and that trains and passenger services will be running in the Borders by 2011," he said.

"I think at every step of the way lots of people have doubted us and every time we have delivered on it.

"We are delivering once again with this significant financial investment to make the project happen."