Support the line

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 19:48

Your editorial (3 November) is probably the most misguided I have read in years.

As the world's energy resources continue to dwindle, and the harmful impact of our car use on the environment continues to escalate, our national newspaper dictates that the Borders should not have the railway which all of the Scottish Parliament – apart from anti-rail campaigner Brian Monteith – voted for: a railway which will bring fast energy-efficient transport to the region, and with it many new employment and leisure opportunities.

Your editorial does not reveal your sources for the assertion that the Borders railway can only be justified as far as Gorebridge, but it is a blinding matter of fact that the cost per mile of the railway as far as Gorebridge is far higher than the remaining section to the central Borders, and receipts from Borders passengers will help justify the Midlothian section.

The railways to Inverness, Elgin, Wick, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh do not pay their way, but try suggesting to the communities of northern Scotland they should survive without their rail links. The Borders needs its railway back for vital social, economic and environmental reasons, all of which will increase in importance in future years

ROBERT DRYSDALE

Primrose Bank Road

Edinburgh