MSP for South Scotland Craig Hoy, is calling for defibrillators to be installed at Tweedbank, Galashiels and Stow railway stations as soon as possible.

Scotland currently has 359 railway stations in total and only 56 are currently equipped with a defibrillator.

None of these stations are on the Borders Railway line.

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Former SNP transport minister Kevin Stewart recently confirmed in a response to a question from MSP Jamie Greene that plans to install further defibrillator devices across the ScotRail network are being developed.

But Mr Hoy says it is crucial that more passengers and staff are able to access defibrillators as soon as possible and that local people get behind the campaign and ensure Borders stations are on that list of stations.

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Mr Hoy said: “Having easy access to a defibrillator device can often be the difference between life and death.

“While it is welcome that over 50 stations in Scotland now have them on site, I am keen to ensure that staff and passengers using Borders stations have access to one too.

“You never know when an emergency situation might arise, so having a defibrillator on hand to use before emergency services arrive, would be of great help.

“I will continue to encourage SNP ministers to guarantee ScotRail will have the resources they need to rollout further defibrillator devices, including hopefully across the Scottish Borders in the near future.”