EASTERN

Billingham: The Northern station may get two passenger lifts.

Cowbit: There could be another breach of the formation of the old GN& GE Spalding- March line ( closed in November 1982), if plans are approved to build 45 homes on the empty goods yard site just north of the station. This also threatens the future of the large empty brick goods shed there.

Saltburn: The Saltburn Miniature Railway has spent £ 50,000 on sea defences near Skelton Beck.

Steeton & Silsden: The car park at the West Yorkshire station ( reopened in 1990) may receive a second storey to increase capacity, and a new footpath built to reach Airedale Hospital.

Washington: Sunderland County Council’s Conservative group has called for a western extension of the Tyne & Wear Metro from South Hylton to improve the area’s business prospects, as well as new lines to Seaham via Ryhope and services to Penshaw, Doxford Park and Houghton.

West Yorkshire: Platform extensions are being built at Castleford, Featherstone, Knottingley, Normanton, Pontefract Tanshelf, Pontefract Monkhill and Streethouse stations.