The Borders Railway is entering a visible new phase of modernisation as engineers start putting up steel masts that will carry overhead wires for future battery-electric services.

Funded by a £26.2m Scottish Government investment, the project covers 13km of the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank and is designed to enable cleaner, more reliable and more comfortable journeys when new trains are introduced in the early 2030s.

Although the most obvious elements are only now appearing, much of the groundwork for electrification was built into the railway before it reopened in 2015. Bridges, stations and other assets were designed to accommodate wires and equipment, limiting the need for major reconstruction now.

Since work began in March, teams have been installing foundations for 350 overhead line structures. With about half of these now in place, attention is turning to erecting the steel masts and support arms, which will be visible between Tweedbank and Bowshank Tunnel near Stow.

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To reduce the impact on passengers, most activity is scheduled overnight and at weekends. After all structures are installed, crews will fit the wiring, conduct testing and complete final preparations for the introduction of battery-electric trains.

Lynsey Maclean, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: "This is an exciting stage of the project because people can now start to see the railway changing. A huge amount of work has gone into planning and building the foundations, much of it behind the scenes, so seeing these new structures appear is a real achievement.

"What makes this project unique is that many of the decisions needed for electrification were taken when the railway was rebuilt more than a decade ago. That means we're able to deliver this significant upgrade with far less disruption than would otherwise have been needed.

"We know the Borders Railway plays an important role in communities across the region. We're making good progress in this next phase, and I'd like to thank passengers and our neighbours for their patience and understanding as work continues over the coming months."

Marking the milestone, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale, Calum Kerr, visited the site last week and added: "It was fantastic to see the progress being made on the Borders Railway electrification project and to meet the team delivering this important investment. The Borders Railway has already transformed connectivity for communities across the region, and these improvements will help make rail travel even more sustainable and reliable. I will continue to support efforts to extend the Borders Railway so that the whole region can benefit from the economic and social opportunities that improved rail links can bring."