The news that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is making a technical change to government debt rules to permit more borrowing ahead of her first Budget has sparked a political row, but she has insisted it will free up much-needed extra money for investment in infrastructure.

Among the projects that could get a slice of £50 billion in extra cash are rail schemes, which may involve the establishment of new stations and improvements to existing ones.

Many commuters will be familiar with what the latter involves, as dark, dingy and shadowy corners of older structures have been replaced with lots of natural light, aided by glass partition walls to help people navigate, as well as enjoying better illumination and a greater feel of space.

More infrastructure spending of this kind will be good news for civil engineering contractors and glaziers alike, with projects like HS2 showcasing the use of extra glass in station design to create a greater sense of light and space.

Although HS2 was curtailed by the previous government, ending plans for any grand new station design in Crewe or Manchester, there has been talk – and some proposals – for a replacement, possibly an ‘HS2 lite’ that uses the land set aside for the northern leg without it being a high-speed line.

However, as Rail Magazine reports, ministers have sought to play down speculation that HS2 will be fully reinstated, although alternative options are being examined alongside a review of HS2 and other infrastructure projects inherited from the previous government.

Among specific elements the government is set to decide on is the connection of the line between Old Oak Common in west London and Euston.If that goes ahead, it will involve the redevelopment of the much-criticised Euston Station, widely derided for being overcrowded and chaotic, with passengers frequently having to make last-minute sprints for trains.