Earlier this month I was invited to join Cllr Peter Butlin, representatives from London Midland and the campaign group ‘A Station for Kenilworth’ and hop aboard the test train to make the journey between Leamington and Coventry.
This was a milestone signalling the start of the countdown to a passenger rail service in Kenilworth. The test train was chartered along the route from Leamington to Coventry to make sure the planned running times for the brand new rail service for Kenilworth are accurate.
Construction work on the new railways station, to be built on Priory Road will begin in the summer next year and the station is set to open in December 2016. It will include a ticket office, 90 space care park and cycle parking.
I have long campaigned for our town to have a station again, something it has lacked since 1965. The new rail service will increase travel options for the town’s residents and the flow of customers for its businesses. It will also provide a link to rail services beyond the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region, giving improved access to London and Birmingham and provide an enormous boost to our local economy and tourism. The test journey was an exciting step forward and demonstrated the project is a reality.
Kenilworth residents now have the opportunity to find out more about plans for the station and have their say on three concept designs. An online exhibition is available at:
http://kenilworthstation.wordpress.com/
I encourage anyone with an interest in the station to visit the website, see the exciting proposals and play their part in shaping the design of this important facility in our town. Responses need to be submitted by Sunday 9th November 2014.