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Statement due on rail line plans Railway work to start, MSPs told
(about 6 hours later)
A ministerial statement is to be made in the Scottish Parliament on plans to reopen the Waverley railway line between Edinburgh and the Borders. Construction on the railway line between Edinburgh and the Borders will begin within the lifetime of the current Scottish Parliament.
Early works have started on the scheme, but concerns have been voiced about the funding allocated to the project. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the completion date of 2011 put forward by the previous Holyrood government was "never achievable".
The Scottish Government has warned that this could make a target of opening the line in 2011 unachievable. Capital costs of the project will be between £235m-£295m, the Scottish Parliament was told.
An announcement is expected to be made at Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon about the Borders rail project. Mr Stevenson told MSPs the rail link would provide prosperity.
Clearance works on reopening the Waverley line got under way last year. Clearance works for re-opening the Waverley line got under way last year.
However, the new Scottish Government voiced concerns about the funding package put in place for the multi-million pound scheme. However, the new Scottish Government voiced concerns about the funding package put in place for the scheme.
It said it would look closely at the project to ensure its financial plans were "robust". Mr Stevenson told MSPs: "We will deliver a railway that strengthens some of Scotland's poorest communities, spreads wealth to the regions and provides a real, sustainable integrated and cost-effective public transport alternative to the car."
Now it is to clarify the future of the scheme with a statement on the current situation.