The key appointment will allow several pieces of work to be carried out on the project to assess the benefits and challenges of the railway line’s extension including feasibility work and analysis of the economic impact it would bring to the Borderlands area.

This has been made possible through funding of up to £10 million from the UK and Scottish governments, through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, designed to drive inclusive growth and delivering significant and lasting benefits through regeneration.

The development of the business case for the Borders Railway is a key project within the Borderlands Deal which recognises the potential of such a link to support economic growth.

Following the success of the re-instatement of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, an extension could improve transport links to towns such as Hawick, which continue to face the effects of recent economic downturns, as well as offering improved connectivity for tourists, commuters and residents alike.

Extending the railway through the heart of the Borderlands could also provide more environmentally friendly transport connections for the places and towns along the route.

Councillor Euan Jardine, leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “This appointment is a really significant development that will allow important groundwork to be undertaken to establish how feasible an extension to the Borders Railway beyond Tweedbank and to Hawick and Carlisle is.

“The tireless work done by the Borderlands Partnership and the local community up until now has made this progress possible and now we will be able to make significant strides forward in clearly outlining the potential benefits an extension of the line could deliver for the local economy and the region as a whole.”