Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4522&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=6

What's wrong with this press release then?

Article is headlined

NETWORK RAIL INVESTS ^950K IN A BETTER RAILWAY FOR KENILWORTH PASSENGERS

but Kenilworth station closed in 1965.

Yes: it seems to have been a lovely old station, too - there are some pictures, at http://www.warwickshireias.org/kenilworthstation.htm  :(

Isn't it scary that Network Rail employ people who clearly a) haven't the first idea of the fine detail about what their company does and b) doesn't even do the most basic checking before releasing such an announcement. No wonder they've come in for such flack about the WCML press releases.   

But if you read this http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/corporate/newsstor.nsf/80707438953795f380256e85002b2be0/cf958c0d00f0112a802574210031cf84?OpenDocument (http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/corporate/newsstor.nsf/80707438953795f380256e85002b2be0/cf958c0d00f0112a802574210031cf84?OpenDocument)
May be there is a new station being built shock horror the rail industry building and open new station where once they were closed what will Dr Beeching say

Well the press release actually makes no mention of a new station or even the possibility of the work being carried out now being compatible with any future new station.

The fact that there is a strong hope for a new station in Kenilworth makes the Press Release headline even more inappropriate and insensitive to the local community, as it completely mismanages expectations of the reader. I wouldn't be surprised if the local press pick up on this point.

Well I suppose their argument will be that they are still Kenilworth passengers, i.e. people who live in and around Kenilworth - the fact that they have to drive 20 miles (or whatever it is) to actually catch a chuffing train is irrelevant.

Thoughtless and irresponsible editing though. Who ever authorised that to be published should be downgraded at least.

Very good point. It seems Networkrail has decided that the simple renewal of the points and part of the track on the dynamic passing loop at Kenilworth is worthy of trumpeting to the world.

What would be worth telling the world is double tracking throughout from Coventry to Leamington and the provison of station at Kenilworth.

If they don't re double where will the new station be sited? On the single track (causing congestion) or on the loop requiring two platforms with disabled access.

Secondly what service will call there? Although it says Arriva is interested in being a partner for the new station  I can't see them really wanting to stop their Voyagers to pick up what will essentially be commuters and shoppers to Coventry and Birmingham. If it was a separate  Leamington to Birmingham stopping service via International it would mean yet another DMU running under the wires for a lot of its journey plus there are no spare paths between Coventry and Birmingham.

It could be an extension of the  Nuneaton Coventry via Bedworth service to Leamington which isn't electrified, assumming of course there are spare DMUs arround. It would also mean Birmingham passengers would have to  change at Coventry or Leamington.

Kenilworth is an interesting case study where although there is a main line right through the town with presumably the site of the old station on which to build a new station. It is very difficult to work out how to provide a useful  train service for the residents of the town. By a useful service I mean  one which goes where they want to go. Which must be mostly Coventry and Birmingham. London is a change at Leamington onto Chiltern or Coventry onto Virgin. The current pattern of services on the line and lack of capacity on link routes severely limits such service options.

Grahame, I think there's some ammo in this re your favorite station. You could gently point out they serve  roughly the same population but your staion is already built. You have proven demand from previous experience. Maybe a quite word in the Treasury's ear that DaFT will get more and quicker "bangs for their bucks" providing a better train service to your station, than building a brand new one at Kenilworth, may pay dividends. 

As the title of this topic suggests, this is not the first time something like this has happened.

What's wrong with this press release? - http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4485&NewsAreaID=2

The original station had two platforms, but the new one has but one. Oh, and the original one wasn't closed to improve accessibility, but to remove a level crossing.

I expect the Wealden Line campaign group will fear that the new station could be built in a way as to make the much needed re-opening of the line to Lewes prohibitive. There's nothing on either of their two websites at the mo, but I will watch with interest.

To me, the best way to improve the station would be to do up and use the existing station! There would also be the benefit of a much enlarged carpark. But of course, we can't have Uckfield drivers being held up on the level crossing can we?

As for mistakes, as per John R...

and the "late 1980s" for the opening of the station that's being replaced is being somewhat generous - it was September 1991 that it opened ... so it's being replaced after just 18 years.

I did ask someone on the ground for their opinion...