A TWEEDBANK schoolgirl has won a poster competition designed to highlight the dangers of living near the railway.

With the construction of the Borders Railway due to be completed this month, Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) invited 26 primary schools throughout Midlothian and the Borders to take part in the Rail Safety Reps initiative.

Eleven-year-old Annabelle Lugton, a primary seven pupil at Tweedbank, was one of two regional winners in the competition, the other being P6 pupil Eilidh Taylor from Gorebridge.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph after accepting a gift voucher as her prize, Annabelle said: “I’ve learnt that it’s not safe to play around trains - now, I think I will be more careful especially since there’s going to be a railway in the Borders.

“We saw some other posters from past competitions, and I think that’s what inspired me to draw mine.” Meanwhile, Stow Primary School was highly commended for their efforts in communicating and engaging with pupils to communicate rail safety messages and the school was awarded a £250 cheque.

PC Gary Dinwoodie, British Transport Police, said: “The safety of children is paramount, because obviously railways are dangerous for kids. It’s a very safe way to travel but the correct behaviour around the railway and on the platform is what we’re trying to instill.

“The Scottish Borders has been a more challenging area than most as there’s no railway here, so it’s educating the kids, possibly older brothers and sisters, possibly adults too - it’s been 50 years since the last operational railway was down here so we need to get the message out and instill a peer learner approach so kids effectively teach the adults.” The new line will include 30 miles of railway with 10 stops, including seven new stations, allowing passengers to travel from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley. It is due to open for the public on September 7.

However, the first ScotRail trains will begin driver training on the line this weekend.

Katie Vollbracht, senior programme development manager, Network Rail, said: “The team were very impressed with the creativity and inspired poster designs from the pupils and with how much effort the schools themselves put behind the rail safety scheme. Engineering trains are already travelling along the line so it is essential that young people are aware of the risks. We are committed to continuing to work with schools along the route to underline the safety message.”