THE BORDERS is on track with over a million passenger journeys made as the line celebrates its first birthday.

The route, which runs from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley, celebrates the milestone today (Friday, September 9).

The new figure was announced by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf and ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster at a special event which took place at Edinburgh Waverley station this morning.

The Border Railway, which is the longest new line built in the UK for over a century, was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen on Wednesday, September 9, 2015.

Mr Yousaf and ScotRail Alliance staff were joined by passengers and local businesses from along the line of route to celebrate the positive economic and social impact the new railway has had on Midlothian and the Borders.

Throughout the first 12 months, the new railway’s 21,000 train services have carried its first million passengers on a combined 35 million miles.

Verified passenger numbers for the first year of operation are still to be published, but they are expected to exceed the forecasts made in the original business case.

Mr Yousaf and ScotRail Alliance staff were joined by passengers and local businesses from along the line of route to celebrate the positive economic and social impact the new railway has had on Midlothian and the Borders.

Local tourist attractions are also uncovering the benefits of the new line with Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott’s home, logging a 12% increase in visitor numbers this year.

Elsewhere, overall visits to Midlothian and Borders tourist attractions increased by 4% and 6.9% over the first seven months of 2016, compared to the same period last year, following research by Moffat Centre.

Humza Yousaf, Transport Minister said: “I am delighted we're continuing to see the Borders Railway go from strength to strength with over one million passengers using the line during its inaugural year.

“Not only has the railway linked communities in the Borders and Midlothian with the wider Scottish rail network for the first time in 46 years, but the increased accessibility has breathed new life into the region, boosting tourism and employment opportunities.”

Phil Verster, ScotRail Alliance managing director, added: “We are very proud of the popularity of the new line, are striving to continually improve the service we offer on in it, and look forward to welcoming even more passengers aboard Borders’ services in the years ahead.”

Managing Director, Dominic Booth of Abellio UK, said: “As with anything new of this scale, we know there is room to strengthen and grow. We are excited about what lies ahead for the Borders line and are proud to be celebrating the first year, with a positive outlook of improvements and developments to come."

As demand to travel on the line increases, more seats will be introduced on peak services next year along with plans to introduce longer trains on more services from 2018 – providing significant, longer term increases in capacity.

Significant investment in the rolling stock will also deliver enhancements worth over £14 million to the trains over the next two years. These improvements include; fitting power sockets, flooring, lighting, painting, re-livery and creating spaces for wheelchairs.