New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

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New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

Postby dutchman » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:43 pm

A new train station could be built between Coventry and Kenilworth stations to better serve Warwick University and new housing developments including at King’s Hill

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It is among a number of proposals being considered to upgrade rail services in Warwickshire to coincide with the arrival of HS2.

Warwickshire County Council is looking at improving the rail network between now and 2034 under a new rail strategy, which it says will benefit businesses and the some 10million passengers who travel on the county’s train lines each year.

The plan would see an extension to services from the ’north-south corridor’ – which the Leamington and Coventry stops are on – to the East Midlands and Thames Valley, including stops at Oxford, Reading and Nottingham.

Council officers say a new station between Kenilworth and Coventry would improve connections to the university and thousands of homes at King’s Hill, in Warwick district land on historic green belt land just over the Coventry border.

Residents in Finham in Coventry, Stoneleigh and surrounding areas have campaigned on concerns including traffic and pressure on services.

It is located off Stoneleigh Road, Coventry, on the other side of Kenilworth Road and Gibbet Hill to the university campus.

Major road schemes nearby to prepare for HS2 and extra housing include a planned upgrade of the Stoneleigh A46 roundabout.

Warwickshire’s Rail Strategy report said if the plans were approved the station would be built between 2026 and 2033.

It reads: “WCC will investigate the provision of a new strategic multi modal station, located between Kenilworth and Coventry stations.The provision of such a facility will provide strategic and local connectivity to the University of Warwick and planned development in the surrounding area (e.g. King’s Hill).

“WCC aspires for the new Warwick University station to offer a strategic rail service, providing direct rail connectivity to key destinations. The delivery of this station may require the provision of additional rail capacity between Coventry and Leamington.

“In addition it is anticipated that new highway infrastructure will be required to facilitate strategic access to the site.”

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Re: New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

Postby dutchman » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:53 pm

I think it's single-track working on that stretch of the line so don't see how that that will work?

There was a station-like platform and sidings at Gibbet Hill signal box for a long time which as far as I know were never used.
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Re: New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

Postby rebbonk » Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:48 am

If only Beeching hadn't...
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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Re: New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

Postby dutchman » Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:26 pm

Campaign for two new train stations in Coventry

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A campaign has launched to reopen the Coundon Road train station - as well as creating a second brand new station in the east of the city.

Coventry Conservatives are leading the campaign in a bid to help improve public transport and encourage people off the roads to drive down pollution.

Their bid comes at a crucial time for Coventry, with the city told to reduce dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide or face the imposition of a charging Clean Air Zone.

Coventry’s population is also expected to rise by around 15 per cent, the equivalent of 50,000 people, by 2021 – the fastest in the West Midlands – while rail passenger numbers also increased 80 per cent to 5.4 million between 2008 and 2012, with numbers expected to double by 2043.

Conservative group leader councillor Gary Ridley said: “It is all well and good charging people to get out of their cars in the short term.

“But if we want a longer term modal shift you have to look seriously at transport provision.

“We have no train station between Coventry and Rugby.

“The city is under represented in terms of train stations.

“What we want to do is get a feasibility study up as soon as possible to see how we can get these two campaigns together.”

The party delivered 1,500 leaflets on the campaign in Coundon over the weekend and plans to deliver more across Binley and Willenhall in the coming days.

The campaign has also received the support of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

Cllr Ridley added: “The government has made funding available recently for a number of new stations across the region.

“Any bid would be pending support from the West Midlands Combined Authority, which is where Andy Street comes into it.”

Coundon station closed in 1965, although the current Coundon crossing – which is the old station master’s house – still stands.

The council originally considered closing it as part of its plan to reduce high levels of pollution and avoid a government-imposed Clean Air Zone.

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Re: New station plan for Coventry outskirts' new homes and Warwick University

Postby dutchman » Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:51 pm

Plan to rebuild historic station steams ahead

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NEW railway stations in Coundon, Foleshill and Binley in Coventry could be on the right track after councillors pledged to start a feasibility study.

New stations on Coundon Road, and in Binley and Willenhall, received support from the Coventry City Council on Tuesday (October 15).

The proposal to build smaller stations outside Coventry city centre was placed by shadow cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, Councillor Peter Male.

Coun Male said: “I’m delighted that we were able to secure cross party support for our idea to look at the feasibility of two new rail stations in Coventry.

“They would give people a viable alternative to the car so it makes sense to explore the possibility of these new stations in the city – new stations are opening right across the West Midlands.”

At the full council meeting, the Labour group also supported the plan, and added another proposal to also build a new station to Foleshill.

After the meeting, the council’s Conservatives said: “Coundon, Binley and Willenhall were suggested by Conservatives because of their strategic locations. Coundon Road station is situated close to Bablake School – which attracts a lot of traffic from outside of the city, as well as an air quality hot spot.

“A new station on the east of the city is desirable as there are currently no stations to the east of Coventry within the city boundary.

“The station in Coundon opened to passengers in 1850 and closed in 1965, it was originally named ‘Counden Road railway station’.

“Much of the original architecture is still in situ and station buildings are now used by the adjacent Bablake School.”

Councillor Gary Ridley, the leader of the council Conservatives, added: “Whatever way you look at it people won’t ditch the car until viable alternatives are available.

“There’s been a huge growth in the number of passengers using rail travel in Coventry in recent years. So I’m very pleased that we now have unanimous agreement to explore the idea of opening these new rail stations in the city. A quality public transport system can help to reduce pollution and congestion and fewer car journeys mean quicker car journeys plus we’d all breathe cleaner air.”

Earlier this year, Warwickshire County Council discussed plans to build a railway station at the King’s Hill development near Finham.

The county council is compiling a new rail strategy, which it says will benefit the ten million passengers who travel on the county’s train lines each year.

The plans, to 2034, would extend services from the ’north-south corridor’, which includes Coventry and Leamington stations – to the East Midlands and Thames Valley, including stops at Oxford, Reading and Nottingham.

Councillors at Warwickshire say a station between Kenilworth and Coventry would improve connections to Warwick University and thousands of homes at King’s Hill, the development on Warwick District green belt to the South of Coventry.

Warwickshire’s Rail Strategy report said if the plans were approved the station would be built between 2026 and 2033.

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