Contractor BAM Nuttall has completed track-laying on the Borders Railway project.
The 30-mile line is the longest new railway to be built in Britain for over 100 years.
Keith Brown, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for infrastructure, and Hugh Wark, Network Rail’s project director, fixed the final Pandrol clip into place on February 12 at Tweedbank station.
Brown said: “It is a huge honour to put the final piece of track in place and travel on the first train to run into the Borders in almost half a century. The reopening of this line offers a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a major economic and social boost for the communities it will serve.
He added: “This is the longest domestic railway to be built in Britain in over 100 years and is a fantastic engineering achievement for Scotland and for the rail industry. But more importantly, the Borders Railway is the realisation of a long-held aspiration that will see community links restored, local economies boosted and opportunities improved for many.”
The Borders Railway is set to open in September 2015.
With the track now installed, attention turns to ballast spreading, tamping, welding and the installation of signalling equipment.
Work will also continue at the seven new stations being constructed at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.
Great news but is it really the longest new railway in Britain for 100 years? Are the 68 miles of high speed line just an illusion?