Mr Swinney said that Waverley line commitments would be met

The new government has announced that a financial shortfall in the proposals will need to be met by councils.

It has prompted an emergency motion from the authority in the Borders seeking talks with the executive.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said the project had to meet the same financial standards as any other.

Borders council leader David Parker said it was up to the executive to foot the bill.

We have given the same commitment to this railway in the Borders as was given by the previous administration John Swinney Finance secretary

He said the authority had contributed as much as it could to reopening the line.

"We need to know from ministers if they are going to commit to this scheme and fund it," he said.

"Borders and Midlothian councils have gone as far as we can in providing funding."

Scheme progress

However, Mr Swinney said there was a finite amount of funding for Scottish transport projects and the Waverley line was being treated like any other.

"We have given the same commitment to this railway in the Borders as was given by the previous administration," he said.

"We have to take the project forward on that basis."