RAIL chiefs revealed they expect to get complaints over the noise of the engines involved in laying the track for the new line between Edinburgh and the Borders.

However, they insisted that the trains which will eventually run on the line when passenger services begin in September next year will be much quieter.

The Borders Railway, which runs between Tweedbank and Edinburgh, is expected to be laid by the end of the year with driver training and testing of the track due to start in the spring.

Speaking at this month’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, Jonathan Hepton, the Borders Railway community liaison manager, said: “It may be that this track laying train will attract some complaints as it hangs around and sounds its horn, but it’s not the same as the trains which will carry passengers on the line.” The meeting heard that VisitScotland planned a special advertising campaign to promote the Borders Railway in a promotional campaign in 2015/16 and, before then, a train would be made up in special livery in advance of the line reopening.

The new line reached the Borders last week and is expected to reach the region’s first station at Stow on November 21.

When asked if the railway was still on course to be completed in time, Mr Hepton said: “There is no indication that it’s not going to schedule, everything seems to be going very well.” The meeting was reminded that a return fare between Edinburgh and Tweedbank would cost £15.70 at peak times and £13.10 at off-peak times, although under fives travel free, children get 50 per cent and rail card holders could get up to a third off their fares.

Community councillor tom Ingoldsby said it was “reasonable” in comparison to the cost of petrol and parking in Edinburgh.

Gala in Bloom has confirmed it will adopt the new station platform in Galashiels to spruce up the entrance to the town.

Chairwoman Judith Cleghorn said: “I don’t think there is a lot of room for decoration on the platform but we’ll certainly do something.”