Main construction work is now underway on the new railway to reconnect Edinburgh with the Scottish Borders.
Following six months of preparations, excavation of the track alignment for the new line through the Monktonhall area and the new Shawfair station site has begun.
The new Borders Railway will open in 2015, re-establishing a passenger rail service between Edinburgh and Tweedbank for the first time in more than 40 years.
The £294m scheme is being led by Network Rail, on behalf of the Scottish Government, and principal contractor BAM Nuttall.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Our delivery of the Borders Railway is bringing communities along the route back into the rail network for the first time in over 40 years.
“The start of the construction works is a hugely exciting milestone and will allow those communities to witness the scheme coming to life.”
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: “The start of the main construction works is a major milestone in the delivery of the new line.
“From today, local communities will be able to see their new railway beginning to take shape and we look forward to working with them, our contractors and the Scottish Government to re-establish this vital transport link for the Borders.”
Is there any chance of the link to Carlisle being completed? I’m not sure what engineering challenges it would pose. On the map, it doesn’t look very far.