East West Rail uncertainty
The National Audit Office has concluded that it is ‘not yet clear’ how the benefits of the £6.6 billion East West Rail scheme will be achieved, nor how it fits in with other government plans for growth in the region. A new report says that ‘as with many transport projects, the rationale for East West Rail does not rest on the strength of the benefit–cost ratio for the project alone – which is poor – but on its wider strategic aim of overcoming constraints to economic growth in the Oxford–Cambridge region’.

Formal opening of East Linton
Scottish transport minister Fiona Hyslop has formally opened the £15 million station at East Linton on the East Coast Main Line. The Minister was joined on the platform by guests who included representatives from the rail industry, East Lothian Council, RAGES (Rail Action Group East of Scotland) and people from the local community, who saw her unveil a plaque to mark the occasion.

Appointments
Chiltern Railways has appointed three new faces to its management team. Tony Baxter is operations director, having joined from Northern, Andy Camp, previously with West Midlands Trains, has been named as permanent commercial and customer strategy director, and Tim Sayer is now engineering and safety director. Tim spent part of his early career at Chiltern from 2006 to 2009.

Screens
Northern has installed new information screens at 77 stations, as part of a wider upgrade costing £14 million. The format is clear and easy to read, and includes more information about delays. The screens have white LEDs which can be seen from further away, and the higher colour contrast makes them easier to read for passengers with limited vision. Northern has now installed a total of 387 screens at 167 stations.

Glazing
Network Rail will be taking advantage of the Christmas break by installing new glazing in the 25m gable ends at Stoke-on-Trent station. The Grade II* listed wooden and wrought iron frames at each end of the trainshed contain more than 200 glass panels, but they have started to deteriorate and some of the glass has been removed recently. The work has been planned in consultation with heritage experts and needed consent from Stoke-on-Trent City Council because of the structure’s listed status.