John Swinney has promised a “greener, fairer, more connected future” for rail in Scotland as he helped to mark the 10th anniversary of the Borders rail line.

A decade after the line opened to the public the Scottish First Minister said it had “exceeded expectations”.

Since the Borders rail line – which was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II – first started carrying passengers there have been more than 13 million passenger journeys, with the service seen as a vital transport link for residents, commuters and visitors.

The Scottish Government invested £353 million in the route – which runs from Edinburgh to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders – with seven new railway stations built as part of the project.

When it reopened it re-established part of the former Waverley line, wh

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