PUPILS and teachers from Stow Primary School were present at a celebration to mark the handover of the new rail station on Friday, as the opening of the Borders railway draws ever closer. Ownership of the station at Stow has now officially transferred from contractor BAM Nuttall – who were also celebrating their 150th anniversary at the event - to ScotRail. Amanda Findlay, Head Teacher at Stow Primary School, said: “Since August 2013, when the construction of the railway began, BAM have recognised the impact of this on Stow Primary School and have sought to build a positive relationship with the school.

“The pupils have been inspired and enthused by a range of talks from various workers on the project. Most recently BAM have made a significant financial contribution to our 'Lives on the Line Exhibition’ which will showcase the work of pupils in researching real life characters from the past who had links to the Waverley Line.” At it’s peak the BAM team for the Borders Railway project topped 1,000 construction personnel including many local businesses from the Borders. Over £40 million of subcontract and supply contracts were placed directly with local businesses in the Borders, the Lothians and Fife.