Alstom
Derby
produces
last
train


The
threatened
Alstom
train
building
works
in
Derby
is
set
to
complete
its
last
train
tomorrow,
and
managing
director
Nick
Crossfield
has
warned
that
little
progress
has
been
made
during
talks
with
government
ministers
about
the
future
of
the
plant.
However,
rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
published
a
list
of
four
potential
rolling
stock
contracts
last
month,
one
of
which
could
be
awarded
in
December.




Avanti
performance


A
meeting
of
the
Transport
for
the
North
Board
in
Leeds
today
is
expected
to
approve
a
Strategic
Transport
Plan
for
the
north
of
England
which
could
boost
region’s
economy
by
£118
billion
by
2050.
As
well
as
longer
term
plans,
the
meeting
will
discuss
‘more
immediate’
priorities,
including
the
performance
of
Avanti
West
Coast
and
how
it
could
be
improved.
Members
will
also
consider
the
implications
of
the
draft
Rail
Reform
Bill,
which
was
published
a
month
ago.

New
station,
new
tram
lines


Transport
for
Greater
Manchester
has
submitted
a
business
case
for
a
new
station
at
Golborne
in
the
borough
of
Wigan
to
the
Government,
which
would
need
an
investment
of
£31.8
million.
Proposals
have
also
been
unveiled
to
extend
the
Metrolink
tram
network
to
Stockport,
Middleton,
Heywood,
Bolton
and
the
Atom
Valley
regeneration
zone.
Mayor
Andy
Burnham
said
a
decision
could
be
made
this
summer,
and
that
work
is
under
way
on
preparing
a
‘watertight’
business
case.