Further to the answer to question S1W-3307 by Sarah Boyack on 15 December 1999, whether the study into the reopening of the Borders Railway…

The study commissioned by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Borders Council, Midlothian Council and Scottish Borders Enterprise has now been completed. It was proposed by the Borders Working Party as a contribution to the consideration of how transport links to the area could be improved to the benefit of its economy.The study is the product of a thorough analysis of the technical feasibility of reopening part or all of disused railway line from Edinburgh to Carlisle together with a detailed assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts. Both the capital costs and operational viability of a range of options have been examined in detail. For all of these options the study has found that there would be a need for considerable public funding. The study is an impartial and independent one. It has applied a robust methodology to arrive at a set of conclusions that can now be considered by the key stakeholders, in particular the relevant local authorities, local enterprise companies and the rail industry. As intended, the study does not make any recommendations on whether or not the project should be progressed and, if so, how. That is for the key stakeholders to decide and take forward with other interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, as appropriate.The study's findings will be made available to all that wish to see them. I have arranged for it to be made available through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and the Scottish Executive Library. Arrangements have also been made for copies to be available in local libraries in the areas concerned. The study will also be available in a digital form.