‘Build it, and they will come,’ is sometimes attributed to Peter Hendy who, when he was transport commissioner for London, used the phrase to justify the large investment in London Overground. Those words are actually a misquote from a 1989 film, but he was right about the Overground, which was created almost 20 years ago, because the result was a transformation. That word is often over-used, but on this occasion it was fair enough. Until 2007, the North London Line, part of the Silverlink Metro franchise owned by National Express, had been a disgrace.

A new 3.5km electrified test track has been opened at Long Marston by rail minister Peter Hendy. Lord Hendy was joined by Porterbrook CEO Mary Grant. The rolling stock leasing company acquired the 56 hectare site at Long Marston, between Honeybourne and Stratford-upon-Avon, in 2021, and bought the freehold three years later.