WIREDGOV

Plans for a new railway £11 million station in Kenilworth were given a major boost yesterday (3 June 2013) as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced that he was minded to fund the new station at Kenilworth, with the department providing up to £5 million towards the project.

The station would be part of £37 billion worth of investment spent from 2014 to 2019, which will modernise the railways and provide massive benefits to both passengers and the UK economy. The £5 million investment would represent the biggest single allocation since the launch of the government’s New Stations Fund.

Visiting the region, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

Our support for Kenilworth station illustrates our commitment to working with community and national partners to meet local transport needs that not only deliver real benefits to passengers but also improves the network.

This is another example of the government’s determination to transform the railways as we continue to push forward with the biggest programme of rail investment ever.

Network Rail is now carrying out work to integrate the plans for Kenilworth Station with the extensive improvements, including greater capacity and electrification, planned for the line between 2014 and 2019.

Subject to Network Rail demonstrating that the 2 projects are compatible, scheme sponsor Warwickshire County Council will work with Network Rail to finalise the station plans.

The work to establish how the station can be integrated with the wider improvements is expected to be completed by the end of this year. An integrated approach will deliver better value for money.

Notes to editors

Kenilworth Station was one of the bids for the New Stations Fund, launched in January 2013.

The station will be located on the Coventry to Leamington Spa Line. It will allow rail connections with London and the wider West Midlands. It will include two 100 metre platforms capable of being used by 4 car trains, with passive provision for these to be lengthened in the future.

Because extensive infrastructure improvements are planned on this line in the near future, Network Rail is continuing to investigate how the scheme can be integrated into this wider programme.

The date when the station would open will be confirmed later this year, once it has been integrated in the wider rail enhancement programme.

On 15 May 2013 the Secretary of State for Transport also confirmed funding for 4 other new stations:

• Newcourt, Devon, where the DfT will pay for around half of the scheme expected to cost in the region of £1.5 million
• Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which will receive over £4.5 million of DfT funding towards a scheme worth over £6.5 million
• Lea Bridge, London Borough of Waltham Forest, which will receive over £1 million towards a scheme worth in excess of £6.5 million
• Pye Corner, Newport, which will receive over £2.15 million towards a scheme worth over £3.5 million

Read Patrick McLoughlin’s original statement to Parliament announcing the fund on January 24 2013.

Read the press notice accompanying the statement on 24 January 2013.