Kenilworth Station plans dealt a blow

The future of Kenilworth Station has been dealt a blow after plans to install a double track through the station have been '˜put on hold'.
A twin track will not feature at Kenilworth Station for the forseeable future following Network Rail's announcementA twin track will not feature at Kenilworth Station for the forseeable future following Network Rail's announcement
A twin track will not feature at Kenilworth Station for the forseeable future following Network Rail's announcement

Network Rail had initially planned to install an electrified twin track through the station along with provision for a second platform some years after the station became operational with a single track.

These improvements have now been shelved as a result of the Hendy Review, which reviewed all of Network Rail’s planned upgrades across the country. However, the plans may yet resurface.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The track upgrade through Kenilworth has not been cancelled but was assessed as part of the Hendy Review.

The station site as of Tuesday July 5The station site as of Tuesday July 5
The station site as of Tuesday July 5

“As a result the track work at Kenilworth is on hold and will be considered for funding in the coming years.”

The news confirms fears raised last year when Network Rail revealed it could not commit to billions of pounds of funding across the country.

However, at that time it was unknown whether Kenilworth would be affected by the savings it had to make.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the recent announcement now means Kenilworth Station will have an hourly service between Coventry and Leamington using diesel trains indefinitely, the bare minimum of what was hoped for the station when it was first confirmed to be going ahead.

The station site as of Tuesday July 5The station site as of Tuesday July 5
The station site as of Tuesday July 5

Despite the setback to the station’s future, Warwickshire County Council has insisted the announcement will not delay the planned opening date of August 2017, which had already been revised back from December 2016.

A spokesman for the council said: “This will have no impact on the services currently being provided from Kenilworth or to the overall delivery of the project.

“The project plan states that there would be one service per hour and this is still the case.”

Workers from Graham Construction have started appearing on the station site to start work on the 
project.