Former MSP Jeremy Purvis, now Lord Purvis of Tweed, was one of the driving forces behind plans for the Borders Railway.

"I can't tell you how exciting it is," he said. "I have got butterflies right in the pit of my stomach."

He said that when the bill was going through Parliament he "sometimes did wonder" whether it would ever come to fruition.

"Today is so exciting to be joining so many excited people as part of the first service."

South of Scotland trainers are hoping to land a win at Perth racecourse later today.

Langholm's James Ewart runs Roc De Prince (2.10pm) and Sleep in First (3.10pm).

George Bewley of Bonchester Bridge has Mister D in the opening race of the day where Hawick's Donald Whillans also has a runner in Champagne Agent

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland

Wigtown & Bladnoch FC's press officer is 16-year-old Martin Flannighan.

Right from the moment he returned a phone call while on the school bus home, his efficiency and passion for the Red & White Army was clear.

"Miraculous" was Flannighan's response to news that the BBC were paying attention to Wigtown & Bladnoch's Scottish Cup second preliminary round tie against Hawick Royal Albert at Trammondford Park.

The beautiful, sun-kissed Wigtown surroundings at this footballing outpost certainly had to be seen to be believed.

South of Scotland trainer Iain Jardine enjoyed a big win at the weekend.

His Nakeeta romped home at 20/1 under Royston Ffrench in the Betfred Mobile Old Borough Cup at Haydock.

The opening of the new railway was a special moment for Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker, who was involved in the process of reinstating the line.

Image source, Dougie Johnston

He said: "It's just marvellous that's it's here and it's exceeded all my expectations. It really is a superb new railway.

"The Borders is the under discovered gem of Scotland. We now have a railway which means we can be discovered and it's a truly awesome journey.

"It's a beautiful scenic journey. It will be a railway that many people will want to go on."

BBC Scotland Weather
Latest

Plenty of dry, fine weather across our region today with little or no wind.

There'll be a warm feel in the sun as temperatures climb into the high teens.

There will be some cloud around the coast and increasing at times through the afternoon as the light winds veer more northerly.

Remember our local radio bulletins are coming up at 12:30 with all the latest news, sport and weather for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.

Tune in on 92-95FM or 810MW.

Hawick News

The new Borders railway may only be running as far as Tweedbank but, in a bold move, Future Hawick is seeking to cash in on its tourism potential for our town by promoting free onward celebratory bus tours to Hawick, external.

The scheme, which is the brainchild of Future Hawick member Andrew Farquhar, would see the regeneration group offering eight free trips in the pre-Christmas period involving a guided introduction to the Borders coupled with a stop for eating, shopping and visiting in Hawick.

BBC Sport
Scotland

Queen of the South remain third, despite their second successive home defeat in the Championship.

After last week's drubbing by Rangers, the Doonhamers lost 2-0 to St Mirren - both goals coming in the first half.

Boss James Fowler said: "I think we have just got to make sure we work hard, first and foremost, and win our individual battles which I didn't feel we did in the first half.

"That obviously builds momentum for St Mirren and it puts us on the back foot."

Miles Glendinning, of Edinburgh, was one of the first passengers on the Borders Railway on Sunday.

Image source, Dougie Johnston

He said: "My family's originally from Newcastleton so it's obviously kind of a bit of a sore point that the line's not going there yet.

"But seeing it coming to life again is brilliant."

Small business confidence has fallen in Scotland following a drop in revenues and profits, a survey has found.

Firms north of the border are also much less confident than businesses in the UK as a whole, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Steven Harris tweets, external: @BBCSouthScot Lacey harris 7yr old after her golden ticket day on Saturday Langlee primary

Image source, @St3v3nharris

Nichola Rutherford
BBC Scotland

The A75 Dumfries by-pass will be closed again tonight, Scotland Transerv has confirmed.

It was shut to traffic over the weekend for resurfacing work and traffic was diverted through Dumfries.

A spokeswoman for Scotland Transerv said that, due to a mechanical failure, the work was not completed.

It will be closed from 7pm tonight until 6am tomorrow to allow the work to be finished.

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website

Plans are being considered to run an independent lifeboat from St Abbs in the Borders after the RNLI shuts its station in the village this week.

Image source, Mark Hope

It is scheduled to close on Tuesday after 104 years in the area.

A campaign against the move gathered 13,000 signatures which were handed to the RNLI last week.

Organiser Euan Gibson said there was a "major divergence" of views and planning was now under way to raise funds for an independent station.

Tourism bosses are predicting a cycling boom north of the border after the Tour of Britain, external reaches Scotland this week.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

The tour, which started in Wales, is due to enter Dumfries and Galloway on Tuesday and head for Kelso.

On the following day, it will start at Holyrood Park before heading out to East Lothian and the Borders.

Have you taken a ride on the new Borders Railway?

Share your thoughts and photographs with us. Email us on selkirk.news@bbc.co.uk or find us on Twitter @BBCSouthScot.

The Borders and its new railway will be discussed on BBC Radio Scotland's Call Kaye programme this morning.

Kaye Adams will look at the stations along the new rail route and find out what the visitor to the Borders could find on a day trip.

Nichola Rutherford
BBC Scotland

A controversial plan to demolish a landmark building in Hawick has received the backing of council planning officials.

Image source, Jim Barton

They have recommended councillors approve proposals to level the Wilton Mill clock tower, despite accepting that is an "iconic" building.

Objectors have claimed it would be a "travesty" to knock down the historic building in Commercial Road.

Trains have returned to the Scottish Borders after 46 years with the opening of the longest new domestic railway built in Britain for over a century.

Image source, Peter Devlin

The new Borders Railway runs between Tweedbank and Edinburgh and was built at a cost of £294m.

Hundreds of people queued up at Tweedbank station on Sunday morning to be the first passengers on board.

On the A77 landslip repair work is continuing between Cairnryan and Carlock Hill.

Temporary lights remain in use on the A76 Dumfries to Kilmarnock Road at Enterkinfoot, north of Thornhill.

Elsewhere, convoy systems will be in use on the A701 today on sections betweens Amisfield and Parkgate and also at Beattock.

On the A75, temporary lights will be in operation at Springholm from 09:30. There are also traffic controls between Glenluce and Inchpark.