RESIDENTS of Newtown St Boswells are being asked to support the re-establishment of a station in the village – if and when the Borders Railway is extended south of Tweedbank.

The call has come from Daryl du Bois, chair of Newtown and Eildon Community Council.

She is urging villagers to participate in an online survey on the future of transport services across the Borders.

The public has until Friday, August 11, to participate in the Borders Transport Corridors Study which is being undertaken by Transport Scotland.

“This is an important opportunity for us to make our views known,” said Mrs du Bois.

“Perhaps Newtown can once again be on the railway map of Great Britain.”

Newtown was one of four stations between Galashiels and Hawick on the route of the original Waverley Line. The others were at Melrose to the north and Belses and Hassendean to the south.

The station opened as Newtown Junction in 1849 and, from 1865, its name was changed to St Boswells. It was closed to passengers in January 1969 and shut down completely four months later.

Although Newtown has served as the region’s local government headquarters since 1975, its decline in importance as a commercial centre – particularly as a livestock hub – began when the railway closed.

At the last meeting of the community council, members welcomed the Transport Scotland survey and the accompanying assurance from Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf that the Scottish Government was committed to “examine the case for an extension of the Borders Railway”.

“At our meeting, the view was expressed strongly that any extension of the railway to Hawick or even to Carlisle should benefit Newtown,” said Mrs du Bois.

“If the trains come this way, then Newtown should definitely have its railway station re-instated.

“Given our historic association with the Waverley Line, our central position in the Borders and with the headquarters of Scottish Borders Council being here, the village could become an important transport interchange.

“Having a station will bring commercial benefits to our community as well as better transport links.

“We have already seen that public opinion can influence transport decisions with the lobbying of residents in Stow instrumental in securing a station for that village on the Borders Railway.

“I would urge all our residents to search for Borders Transport Corridors Study and have their say before August 11. The survey only takes five minutes to complete and can be anonymous.”