New blow for Borders link

THE future of the proposed Borders rail link from Edinburgh to Galashiels has been thrown into doubt after another key firm pulled out of the bidding process.

Construction giant Carillion withdrew from one of the two remaining consortia competing to build the 230 million line. Other partners in the IMCD consortium now have just months to find a replacement.

The re-opening of the former Waverley line has already been delayed by three years to 2014.

The New Borders Railway consortium pulled out of the bidding last year after American firm Fluor quit. A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "Changes to groupings and consortia during procurement are not uncommon."