IT’S the building which will welcome the world to Galashiels from next month.

And last Thursday the doors of the Galashiels Transport Interchange were finally flung open.

Many of the politicians and campaigners who have lobbied for the return of the Borders Railway were in attendance at the ceremony.

Scottish Borders Council Leader David Parker unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. And David Houston of the Galashiels Roads Consultation Group, which has supported the development of the town over the last ten years, was also on hand.

The £5.2 million building, which opened to the public on Monday, and will be the gateway to the Borders Railway, while also forming the town’s new bus station and directing footfall into the centre of Galashiels. Councillor Parker told us: “Excitement is building with just one month to go before the opening of the Borders Railway, and I am delighted to mark the countdown with the completion of the Galashiels Transport Interchange. It was was February 2010 when the council decided on the preferred location for the Transport Interchange and after a lot of hard work with partners we are ready to open the facility to the public.

“This is a landmark building for Borderers and visitors using the new railway from September 6, and will also play an important role in helping the council achieve its long-term aim of promoting better connections between all means of sustainable transport.” Dignitaries and members of the press were given a sneak preview of the building last Thursday.

As well as offering passenger amenities such as tourist information, bus and train real-time information and a railway ticket machine, the building also houses shower facilities, changing places, disabled toilets and bike lockers to promote cycling and walking.

There is also seating and a cafe – to be run by local firm Born in the Borders – on the ground floor, with two additional floors of office space and conference facilities.

It was also revealed that the building will remain open for 21 hours each day.

The Interchange has been delivered by Hub South East Scotland and its appointed contractor Morrison Construction. Hub South East Scotland chief executive Paul McGirk said: “We are proud to have completed our third project in the Borders - the first in partnership with Scottish Borders Council. In delivering this new Transport Interchange we have provided a range of educational and work opportunities for local people and businesses, so we are delighted that before it even opens to the public, the benefits of this new facility are being realised for the wider community.” A plaque to mark the burial of a time capsule near the site by TD1 Youth Hub was also unveiled by transport councillor Gordon Edgar and Dawson Little from TD1 Youth Club.

The time capsule is due to be opened on August 6, 2065, which contains newspaper clippings from the Border Telegraph, plans for the Galashiels Transport Interchange, information about TD1 Youth Hub and a letter to the future as well as other items.

Douglas Ormston of TD1 Youth Hub said: “With the Transport Interchange being built on our doorstep we started thinking about how we could get involved and decided to make a time capsule. The project really caught the imagination of the young people.”