Train set recommendations for a 9 year old

[notso]

DS2 has asked for a train set for Christmas quite out of the blue.
He wants one he can make go on its own with signals and a figure of eight track and is hoping it will be set up around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning
I've looked at Hornby ones which are £££ and I'm not sure about spending that much for what might be a fleeting interest.
Any recommendations welcome or is Hornby the only way to go?

Hornby is brilliant.

My DS is 8 and had the flying Scotsman for his last birthday. The only alternative I can think of for this age is the Lego train. That is a bit cheaper. None off them will be ready to go on Christmas morning without quite a bit of prep.

Lego? We’ve been building the Christmas train recently to go around the Xmas tree (already had a motor from another Lego train). DS1 is 6 and does need some help but not lots.

Thanks for replying.
I'm really torn as some of the cheaper Hornby sets I've been looking at have bad reviews which puts me off a bit but Lego will take me hours to set up and we're hosting 20 for Christmas Eve

Ask him if he has seen a certain type that he likes. Some 9 year olds will still love the wooden ones.
There is currently a Hornby one in Lidl. If you think this interest will last then you want one you can add too. Which is basically Hornby, Lego or Wooden. The good thing with those is if the interest fades the re sale market for them is good.

He has said definitely not a wooden one. We have a massive collection of that at PIL's house.
He wants something with a controller/battery pack I don't think he minds if it's Lego or not.
Thanks, I'll have a look in Lidl we live very close to one and am looking on EBay too.