GREAT North Eastern Railways says it will introduce up to 30 tilting trains between London and Edinburgh, provided that it can negotiate an extension to its franchise.

GNER has put in a provisional order for two tilting trains with the GEC-Alsthom partnership with Fiat and spoken of a possibility of up to six more units, but so far no firm orders have been placed. GNER says it is reluctant to invest in the trains on the basis of a seven-year franchise and is in negotiations with the Government on an extension.

q Rail union chiefs yesterday announced they had cancelled a strike ballot of 4000 Railtrack workers, after an improved pay offer.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) planned a strike ballot after workers voted to reject an offer to increase pay by 4.25% from April 1998 and by the rate of inflation plus 0.5% from next April.

The new offer means staff would get an increase of #10 per week or 4.5%. Railtrack also improved its offer for 1999 to the retail price index plus 1%.