which suggests that he thinks that electrification is about as likely as extension to Carlisle. Or that they'd need to extend to Carlisle before they might look at electrification. None of which seems terribly likely any time soon.
As far as I can remember this is the first time that electrification of the line has been 'officially' mentioned by someone high-up in the transport rankings. This to me seems like a hint that it is something they are seriously considering. Extension to Carlisle or Hawick has always been a tack-on to the end of any talk of improving transport in the region and something that, like you, I don't see happening in the near future.
The Borders Transport Study that came out a few months ago had a few options for the railway including improving the existing line, extending to Berwick or extending to Hawick. Of those three, it is almost certain that improving the existing line will come out on top which would probably involve electrification and more double tracking. So I read that comment as a hint of what's to come rather than a pipe dream like extension of the line.
Off topic but this point nearly made me choke on my tea
I had to read it again as well, shoddy journalism or a bit of confusion as to what Alex was saying about rolling stock deliveries. They also seemed to refer to the 170s as new throughout the article!