IT is the longest new domestic rail track to be built in the UK for over 100 years.

And tomorrow (Thursday) marks another major milestone for the Borders Railway ahead of its planned opening in September next year.

Transport Minister Keith Brown and Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, will visit the newly-constructed Shawfair station to officially mark the track-laying programme.

Work has now begun to install almost 30 miles of rail on the line between Tweedbank and Edinburgh as the £295 million project enters its final significant stage.

By the end of the year, the rail installation machine – capable of laying over 1km of track per day – will have completed the Borders route.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn178iGOkqc Speaking ahead of the event this week, South Scotland MSP Claudia Beamish said: “With less than a year to go before trains are back up and running it is fantastic to see another milestone for the project arrive.

“I’m confident that the Borders Railway will bring huge benefits to communities across the region. There are excellent opportunities to boost local tourism and I’m looking forward to the findings of the feasibility study into how these can be maximised.

“Credit must go to the many campaigners from across the region who have worked so tirelessly to see the project through to this stage.” Meanwhile, tourism chiefs revealed talks were ongoing over plans to open a new visitor information point at the new Transport Interchange in Galashiels ahead of the rail line reopening next year.

Former Scottish Borders Council Leader Drew Tulley, speaking at this month’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, pointed out that while the town has special signage promoting a lorry park and swimming pool there was still none for Old Gala House - one of the town’s biggest tourist attractions, and best kept secret.

However, despite concerns that Galashiels remains one of the few towns in the Borders without a manned tourist information centre, it remains unclear whether the new information point will be manned.

Paula McDonald, Regional Director of VisitScotland, said: “VisitScotland is working with Scottish Borders Council and toursim partners to provide a new touch screen Visitor Information Point at the Galashiels Transport Interchange. This is planned to be in place in time for the opening of the Borders Railway in September 2015.”