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Our Chair Russel Griggs marks the 10th anniversary of the Borders Railway in September 2025 by considering its transformational impact and what it means for transport across the South of Scotland. 

The return of rail to the central Borders in 2015 was a triumph for our communities and partners who worked so hard to make it happen.

The celebrations which marked the occasion a decade ago – which included a royal visit by the late Queen Elizabeth II and a Golden Ticket trip on the train for hundreds deserving local people – highlighted just what it meant to local people.

Since then, the Borders Railway has undoubtedly made a significant difference to the communities and businesses along the line, encouraging people to live, learn, work and visit the region.

While we were set up five years after the Borders Railway’s arrival, we have supported a series of projects along the line which have aimed to capitalise on its presence.

Stow

For example, in Stow, I was delighted to attend the opening of the Stow Station House earlier this year.

We were one of the organisations to support Stow Community Trust’s plans to turn the building which sits alongside the track into a popular bar and restaurant for locals and visitors.

Galashiels

Eight miles down the track, we provided significant support to Energise Galashiels to take forward a series of actions to help regenerate the town.

Alongside Scottish Borders Council, we funded a diverse programme of activity including:

• Almost £50,000 worth of grants being provided to local business owners to improve their commercial properties
• Installation of a mural that attracted wide-spread comment and compliments
• Supporting a range of sporting, creative, and leisure events held in the town
• Development of the Tapestry Way Study which explored the best way to enhance Douglas Bridge and Channel Street to create a Tapestry Way - from the town's Transport Interchange to the new Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor attraction, and around the town centre

Tweedbank

And at the end of the line, in Tweedbank, we are supporting the development of the Borders Innovation Park with a £3million investment announced last year.

The site, situated beside Tweedbank Station, aims to provide new inward investment opportunities for businesses, as well as new higher paid jobs.

The line has also benefitted numerous tourism businesses in the area and supports the rise of inward investment enquiries we are witnessing across the South.

Transport challenge 

Transport is one of the three grand challenges identified by the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership, and the Borders Railway highlights the transformational impact such an infrastructure project can achieve – economic growth, community regeneration and a shift to sustainable travel.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Borders Railway, we are committed to collaborating with partners, communities and businesses to continue to seize the opportunities which rail transport provides our region.