A ‘FRUSTRATED’ MP has urged the UK Government to hurry up with the extension of the Borders Railway.

John Lamont, of the Conservatives, said that transport officials were “dragging their feet” over plans to take the line down to Carlisle, via Hawick and Newcastleton.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, the MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, sought assurances that the UK Government would support the next steps of the Borderlands Growth Deal, including the extension of the Tweedbank to Edinburgh line.

In response, UK transport minister Kevin Foster said he was “only too keen to enhance the links across the border”.

In the House of Commons, Mr Lamont said: “The Borderlands growth deal is a fantastic example of the UK Government delivering for local people, but transport officials are delaying and dragging their feet over the next steps to extend the Borders railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle.

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“The lack of progress is frustrating for me, local campaigners and my local council.”

Mr Lamont asked Mr Foster to agree to “urgently speed up” the extension process.

The minister said: “We are currently considering advice regarding next steps for the proposal.

“In particular, I am keen to see a feasibility study in place for the restoration of the whole rail route.

“I would be happy to put in writing more details for him in the very near future.”

The extension of the line through to Carlisle has been a hot topic in the region since the route opened in 2015.

Back in the summer, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that the UK and Scottish Government transport departments were in talks.