Latest push to bring Kenilworth rail tracks to life
An artists impression of how Kenilworth's new station could look.
The future for Kenilworth’s station’s future could be set by April as the town waits with fingers crossed for news on a million pound funding bid.
Warwickshire County Council has submitted a bid to the Government’s New Stations Fund to bring the rail back to life.
If successful, the tracks could be back in use for passengers by the end of 2014 under an £11.3million scheme.
The new station will be served by an hourly service between Leamington and Coventry and be managed by operators London Midland.
Applications will now be assessed by a cross-industry panel, including from Network Rail and the Department for Transport, and successful cases announced from April.
County councillor Alan Cockburn (Con, St John’s)said it was the latest in a line of funding bids but certainly not the last in a determined effort to restore the town’s railway.
“This bid is the result of a lot of hard work by Warwickshire County Council which has a good track record of developing train stations,” he said.
“A decision will be announced between April and September, but this is not make or break funding. If we are not successful we will be applying for capital scheme funding in 2015 and of course there could well be a second round of New Station Funding, which often happens.”
The funding pot offers up to £5million and the council has set aside £6million to deliver the remaining costs.
Cllr Peter Butlin, portfolio holder for Transport said: “We are confident we have tabled a very strong bid, and we are in a position to quickly deliver the project if we are successful.
“If we get the green the light from the Government, we hope to be on site by Autumn 2014.”
The station has been in the pipeline for years but as previous funding bids were unsuccessful, the scheme has never got off the ground.
Planning permission already exists on site and rail companies are on board, meaning the only thing needed to push ahead is the cash.
It is forecast that the station will attract 446 passenger journeys per day.
The Government is offering £20million for small town stations and Kenilworth was highlighted as an example of a project which could benefit.
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Weather for Kenilworth
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
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