The government has given the go-ahead to a much delayed new train service in Coventry and Warwickshire stopping at a new Ricoh Arena station.
The green light was given by transport secretary Justine Greening to a £9.8million bid for government funding for phase one on the NUCKLE scheme - to improve passenger services between Coventry and Nuneaton.
The Coventry Telegraph earlier exclusively revealed it was decision day for the £23million scheme - with hopes high it was set to get the go-ahead, after years of delays.
It will be seen as a major boost for commuters and the Coventry and Warwickshire economy, and getting people to a new station at the Ricoh Arena for matchdays and events.
Ms Greening made an announcement in the Commons this morning on 23 major transport schemes across the country given an “amber light” in February after competing for a slice of £230million of government funding.
She announced nearly £600m of investment for 21 schemes, much more funding than previously expected.
NUCKLE entirely depended on Ms Greening approving the bid from partners including Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council.
The project also includes a new bay platform at Coventry station to help double or treble the current one-train-an-hour service.
Longer trains will stop at a new Bermuda Park station, and there will be a longer platform at Bedworth.
On matchdays and for concerts, trains could run between Coventry and the Ricoh every 15 minutes.
It is hoped the project would be completed by winter 2013-14.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:52 pm