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.
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.
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