South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth has welcomed the news that Network Rail has completed work to reopen the Nith Valley rail-line between Kilmarnock and Dumfries.

Passenger services began running again this morning after a lengthy closure caused. The line had been closed since 10 February after a landslip near Holywood.

Colin Smyth said: “This is welcome news for passengers on the Nith Valley line who have been badly inconvenienced in recent weeks.

“Well done to workers at Network Rail for ensuring the line was re-opened as quickly as possible, as I know from my discussion with them it was a substantial task to clear the 1,700 tonne of debris and then bring 6,000 tonne of stone to the site to strengthen the embankment.

“The key task now will be checking all the line for resilience as the last thing we want is this to happen again elsewhere.”