At long last, the new route for the A66 in this area has been finalised and a final round of consultations is due to start. The route of the road will avoid the trackbed of the old railway, which the DfT must regard as some kind of asset, despite the ‘final solution’ inclinations of the Historic Railways Estate. Sustrans has developed a great scheme for a combined Appleby – Warcop cycle trail and preserved railway, which all parties are enthusiastic about, so we could be looking at a super new facility for the area, plus the heritage line, the Eden Valley Railway. (James Winstanley)