An assessment of the value of the Borders Railway was published last year. It showed major benefits for the area. See this for more:
Regenerating Scotland’s economy by reopening rail lines
Now, in its second year, research by the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, reported on the BBC website, has identified continued benefits:
- overall travel on the line up 9.5% compared with year one
- the majority of commuters start or end their journey in Edinburgh
- 36 000 estimated car journeys saved annually
- evidence of the railway having an influence on people moving their house or changing job
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-43173456
The BBC report did, of course, mention one or two negatives, but I’ll leave them there.
The success of the Border Railway has prompted other proposals including this:
A feasibility study was mentioned last November but I’ve seen nothing since.
Talking-up Scotland 
That’s an impressive haul of ‘saved’ car journeys. Many of them would have been pretty hefty mileage and often a single person in car. The good effect the new Borders’ Railway is having is very pleasing. As you suggest – scope for further railway developments yet.
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