Construction of the new £300m Borders Railway project has started at a site in Edinburgh.

The initial works involve digging the new line through the Monktonhall area as well as the excavation of the site for the new Sharfair Station, the BBC has said.

It follows on from six months of preparation works, which included mining remediation work at the old Monktonhall colliery.

Last year, Network Rail appointed BAM Nuttall as the main contractor for the project, and they estimated around 500 jobs would be created between now and the 2015 completion deadline. The works will continue throughout the summer and autumn to create the line of the route and the base for the railway track.

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The railway will re-establish a passenger rail link between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders for the first time in more than 40 years and includes 30 miles of new railway and seven new stations at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtowngrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "The start of the construction works is a hugely exciting milestone and will allow those communities to witness the scheme coming to life.

"I very much look forward to seeing the Borders Railway take shape from here with all the social, economic and environmental benefits that will bring for the area."

(JP/CD)