Kenilworth Station - new project?

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

As I understand it the current version of 'NUCKLE' has given up on crossing the layout at Coventry, hence no longer including Leamington - to the extent that the enhanced Nuneaton service 2 tph and extra stations) is going to get and use a new bay west of the down main platform, to keep it out of the station entirely.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, that's how I understand it too - though with the announcement of Kenilworth station the full scheme may now once again be back on the agenda, as it would provide a pretty useful south to east of Birmingham orbital service.  Perhaps extending and increasing the frequency of the current Moor Street to Leamington stopping service to Coventry also might work, though that would mean a reversal at Leamington Spa and I'm guessing the through journey time to Birmingham would be slower than going up to Coventry and changing, but at least that would be a diesel operated option. 

I guess we'll have to wait for an announcement when the various options have been researched.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I can see the electrification of that line only being done within the project that will electrify the full 'electric spine' for freight....

Yes, that line is definitely being electrified (and fully redoubled) as part of the 'electric spine' project, and as I said it's just a question of how quickly that bit is done as to what form the Kenilworth service might take to start with and then be subsequently developed over the years.

I hesitate to take issue with II (but it's not stopping me!) on a detail, but I recall that Coventry - Leamington Spa was never double all the way.  I remember, as a trainspotter at Coventry in the 50's, that 41902 and 41909 ran the 2 shuttles between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa Avenue (as it was then), and there was a short single track section I think with one end at Gibbet Hill and the other at Kenilworth Junction, where the line joined from Berkswell.  I remember trains, latterly dmu's of course, stopping at Kenilworth.   

[IndustryInsider]

That's quite possible - I was just presuming it used to be double track as most similar routes usually were when first built.  I know it's a slightly awkward route in terms of gradients and condition of the ground it runs over.

[IndustryInsider]

Kenilworth station funding confirmed today:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-for-kenilworth-station

[ChrisB]

Test trains for future Coventry-Kenilworth Station-Leamington rail service to run this Saturday

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/KENLWTH/2014/10/04/0000-2359?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt

Unfortunately, several of us will be in Taunton

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Coventry Telegraph:

Revealed: Design of new ^12million Kenilworth train station

Nearly 600 people voted, with a traditional design based on the former town station taking the most votes


Artist's impression of Kenilworth Rail Station option A.

The design of the new ^12million Kenilworth Railway Station has been revealed after a public vote.

Nearly 600 people cast their votes on three designs put forward by Warwickshire County Council and option A ^ based on how the original station, which closed in 1965, would have looked ^ proved the overwhelming favourite receiving 71 per cent of the vote.

The new station, which will be built in Priory Road, has received funding from the Department for Transport^s New Station Fund to the tune of ^5million. The rest of the cash is being provided by local transport bodies and Warwickshire County Council.

Coun Peter Butlin, portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: ^For many years there has been the enthusiasm for a new station in Kenilworth and the benefits it will bring to the town. I^m looking forward to the start of construction next year and making the station and the new rail services a reality.^

Construction work will start on the station next summer and will include a bus stop, a park-and-ride and a car park. For more information visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/kenilworthstation.

[Rhydgaled]

Nearly 600 people voted, with a traditional design based on the former town station taking the most votes

... the overwhelming favourite receiving 71 per cent of the vote.

I'm not the only one who thinks traditional is better then, so why do NR^» (Network Rail - home page), the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) and even (I think) a firm called 'heritage designs' keep inventing ways to vandalise perfectly good architecture. Just look at the plans for Aberystwyth (the trashing of which I have seen in progress), Shrewsbury and, perhaps worst of all, Cardiff Central.

Oh, and Heritage Designs? Don't know if they were responsible for the errors, but the comparison at the end of one of my 'Trains For Fishguard' videos should make clear that the new building has none of the character of the original. The council tried, apparently, but somehow it has utterly failed.

[ChrisB]

More from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Designs for a new railway station in Kenilworth have been unveiled.

It follows a public vote, which Warwickshire County Council said had "overwhelmingly" backed a traditional design based on the original building, which closed in the 1960s.

Work on the ^11.3m station is due to begin in the summer and services could stop there by the end of 2016.

The government gave its backing for the project in December 2013, after years of local campaigns.

The Department for Transport has provided ^5m in funding, with the rest coming from the local authority.

The council said more than 300 people gave their feedback at public exhibitions, with another 250 responding online or by post.

It said 94% backed the building of the new station on Priory Road.

More than 70% selected the "traditional" option inspired by the original station that closed as part of the Beeching cuts.

[IndustryInsider]

Looks to be a fine station building, far larger and better facilities than I imagined.  Interesting that a ticket office is to be provided, given the controversy over ticket office closures that eventual operator, London Midland, has been embroiled in recently.

Also, what an odd county flag Warwickshire has got, and it's logo based on the design must be one of the worst in the country!

[Trowres]

Eeh, the Cardiff design seems to be inspired by the "Eyesore of the month" website; e.g. see:
http://kunstler.com/eyesore-of-the-month/july-2014/

This site has been running for years - you can either follow the links to other months or tweak the date in the URL.

[IndustryInsider]

Good to see this nice little touch being applied to a station design that has already won praise:

http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-twist-for-town-s-new-rail-station-thanks-to-campaigners-1-6602890

[IndustryInsider]

Kenilworth on target to open on Sunday 10th December.

As expected a roughly hourly shuttle service (using a 153 presumably, though hopefully they'll find something longer for the first few days when the public gaze will be on it, and people will be trying it out?) running from 06:00-23:00 on weekdays.  Starts a bit later on Sundays and finishes a bit earlier on Saturdays but still an hourly frequency.  A shame it can't tie in with the Nuneaton-Coventry service due to pathing restrictions at Coventry, and a shame the times can't provide a more even Leamington to Coventry service which will double to become 2tph, but with departures typically at xx:01 and xx:14 from Leamington and xx:25 and xx:36 from Coventry the opportunity for a regular 30-minute service has been missed.  Not as easy as it sounds of course with pathing at Leamington and Coventry and on the single line sections between the two and plenty of intermodal freight vying for the paths.

Still, better than nothing and hopefully things can be tweaked a little over time.

[Adelante_CCT]

using a 153 presumably, though hopefully they'll find something longer

Shhhhhh...... If a certain major forum member hears there is available stock that can replace a single 153, we'll never hear the end of it   

[Tim]

the new building has none of the character of the original. The council tried, apparently, but somehow it has utterly failed.

This is no accident.  It is a dogma of architecture and planning that although the new built is meant to be "in keeping" with the original, it should have a different (sometimes even contrasting) character.  The reasoning being that if it blended in too well it would detract from the original or be a pastiche of it.  You are always meant to see the join.  It is generally not a dogma which the public agrees with.  I live in a 1950s pebble dash semi of no architectural merit in Bath.  Most of our neighbours have built on an extension to the side.  Because this is Bath darling and the planners are so precious none of the extensions are allowed to blend seamlessly into the original house.  They are all set back by about a foot with consequential messy rooflines so that the integrity of the original design is preserved.  The houses all look slightly more ugly because of this requirement because every single extension looks "tacked on".