Coventry-Nuneaton upgrade (NUCKLE) makes the list of 21 DfT local projects

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Good news for the Coventy to Nuneaton rail upgrade, as it has secured ^9.8m worth of Government funding from the DfT.
 
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press20111214

The extension of the Met line from Croxley to Watford Junction is also included in today's announcement.  But for the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) area it seems that road and bus schemes rule the roost with nothing rail specific that I can see, other than the Worcester Transport Strategy which sees minor improvements to Foregate Street and Malvern Link stations:

The BAFFB package will see work undertaken at Worcester Foregate Street and Malvern Link
stations. Foregate Street is the main station for Worcester and the busiest in the county, while
Malvern Link station provides an important access point for rail trips from Malvern Hills District
to Worcester, the West Midlands and beyond. The proposed schemes improve access to and
from the stations, and facilities for passengers.

Worcester Foregate Street: Extensive renovation of the station to provide the following:
Enhanced lighting and CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) (Secure Station Status);
Expanded and secure cycle and motorcycle parking;
Renovation of ticket hall, station concourse, retail facilities and waiting rooms to modern
standards;
Expansion and refurbishment of toilets, disabled toilet at ground level;
Entrance hall upgrades, including: better lighting, d^cor, automatic doors, seating and
improved signing; and
Improvements to pedestrian walk links to/from adjacent bus stops.

Malvern Link: Extensive renovation of the station to provide the following:
Down side platform ticket office & waiting room refurbishment, enlargement, replacement
of cladding, replacement of glazing, provision of Unisex toilet, new "heritage" canopies
(with passive provision for a new retail outlet);
Replacement of down side platform cycle storage with modern, secure facility;
Up side platform waiting room refurbishment, replacement of cladding, replacement of
glazing, new "heritage" canopies;
Additional CCTV cameras (including coverage of cycle parking);
Resurfacing and signing of walk and cycle routes between Worcester Road and down-side
station entrance;
Resurfacing and signing of car park; and
Improved bus ^ rail interchange facilities.
Support from Network Rail, London Midland (stations operator) and user groups has been
forthcoming to progress these schemes.

At Foregate Street, it looks as if the Waiting Room refurbishments are already progressing.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Passengers angry with Nuneaton to Coventry rail scheme delays


Coventry City Council say the Ricoh Arena station will open in May 2015

Passengers have criticised delays in plans to build a better rail link between Coventry and Nuneaton.

The Coventry, Bedworth and Hinckley Rail Users Group said it was concerned proposals to build two new railway stations and increase train services may not happen.

The ^18.8m so-called NUCKLE project was due to be completed in 2014. Coventry City Council, which is helping to lead the scheme, said the stations would now open in May 2015.

The scheme, which will see new railway stations at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and the Bermuda business park in Nuneaton, as well as more frequent trains and increased capacity, has been planned for 10 years.

Mark Whitelegg, from the rail users group, said: "It will be 2017 at the earliest that the whole scheme is delivered. Phase one, which they say will be completed in 2015, will involve the building of the two stations but that will be it. It will still mean the existing single-coach train will trundle every hour between Nuneaton and Coventry until 2017, when the line is electrified."

Mr Whitelegg said the project leaders, which include Coventry and Warwickshire councils, as well as Centro, the West Midlands transport group, blamed the failure to increase capacity on a lack of rolling stock. "The service is already overcrowded," he said. "After all this time, you would have thought they could find an extra coach for this line. I have my doubts as to whether this scheme is actually going to happen."

Marcus Jones, the Conservative MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Nuneaton, said: "There is a lot of frustration about this project, which I share. While this project has been on the drawing board for more than 10 years, the funding wasn't available until 2012."

A Coventry City Council representative said: "The first phase is going ahead as planned with work starting on the stations later this year and opening planned for May 2015."

Centro has not commented.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Work on Bermuda Park railway station in Nuneaton starts

Work has begun on a new station which is part of a ^13.6m project to improve rail links between Coventry and Nuneaton.

Bermuda Park station, being built on Nuneaton's Bermuda Industrial Estate, is expected to be ready by May 2015.

Rail Minister Claire Perry was among officials at a "spade in the ground" event to mark the start of work.

Work on a second new station, at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, started last month.

The Department for Transport is putting ^4.7m towards the scheme which has been in the pipeline for 10 years.

Ms Perry said: "It is so great to see this long-awaited project finally get going.

"Bermuda Park is seeing major redevelopment and the new station is crucial part of this, providing easy public transport access to tens of thousands of jobs in the nearby area."

Peter Butlin, of Warwickshire County Council, said the new Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park stations, together with improvements to Bedworth railway station, would create a sustainable transport link which was "vital to the growth of the region's economy".