TRAIN bosses have defended the Borders RAILWAY being ignored this week in a major timetable improvement plan.

Despite the Waverley-to-Tweedbank line being widely welcomed since re-opening three years ago it has been blighted by overcrowding, cancellations and delays.

This week operators ScotRail announced details of faster journeys, more seats, and more services being introduced across most of the country in December.

More carriages are being added to lines in East Lothian, the central belt and Strathclyde.

And new electric trains with more seats are being introduced to lines around Falkirk, Dunblane, Alloa and Edinburgh.

There will also be additional trains across the central belt, Tayside and the Highlands.

But the Borders Railway hasn't been included in any of this week's announced upgrades.

Local MP John Lamont is among the many who have been left disappointed.

He said: "These new announcements from ScotRail are disappointing, but are by no means a surprise.

"That’s why I am calling for a feasibility study into extending the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle.

"And I will continue to campaign for rail services to return to Reston.

"This will improve connectivity across the Borders."

More than four million journeys have been made on the Borders Railway since it opened in 2015.

The popularity of the 30-mile stretch of track is showing no signs of slowing down either with year on year increases.

But there are regular complaints from passengers about standing-room only carriages for much of the journey.

ScotRail announced last year that new Class 170 trains would be brought onto the Borders Railway - allowing for additional carriages to be added.

Although not included in this week's announcement, a spokesman has confirmed the new engines are still earmarked for Tweedbank.

And they believe the improved timetable for the rest of Scotland will have a positive impact for local commuters.

A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson said: “The introduction of our new trains and the electrification of the central belt will allow us to make best use of our existing fleet and make positive timetable changes in the Borders.

“Next year, we will begin to redeploy our existing class 170 trains to Fife and the Borders.

"These trains will add more than 5,000 extra seats each day.”

ScotRail's improved timetable will come into force on December 9.

Managing director Alex Hynes made the announcement this week.

He said: "The improvements we are making to our timetable from December mean ScotRail has reached another milestone as we build the best railway Scotland has ever had.

"This is just the first phase of the work we are doing to deliver for our customers over the next year."