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02.11.17

Council reveals image of new £82m station masterplan

An image showing how the planned £82m Coventry station is expected to look has been released today.

Coventry City Council are expected to submit a planning application for the new structure later this year after they received investment through the government’s Local Growth Fund.

The scheme will involve extending platforms and creating a second footbridge to connect all four. A second entrance onto Warwick Road with access to all platforms and a multi-storey car-park are also part of the plans.

In addition to the station itself, a bus interchange will be built which will connect through a new access tunnel under the road.

Another platform will also be constructed which will increase the frequency of services between Coventry and Nuneaton to twice an hour.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at the city council, commented: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to secure Local Growth Fund money to help us improve the rail station.

“Coventry is the fastest growing station outside London over the last five years, and these improvements will help it cope with the future major growth in passenger numbers and provide an attractive gateway into the city.”

The plans will be subject to public drop-in sessions and discussion in order to allow residents a say on what the final station will look like.

Jonathan Browning, chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Fund, which allocated the funding, said the station development would transform this area of the city.

He continued: “The Local Growth Fund was set up to support economic growth, and improving transport infrastructure has a big part to play in achieving our priorities and plans for Coventry and Warwickshire.

“The Coventry station masterplan will improve connections with other towns in the area and ease congestion.

“It will also generate jobs and improve the first impression of Coventry for the millions of passengers who arrive annually in the city whether that is for business or leisure.”

Top image: Coventry City Council

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Comments

Andrew Gwilt   03/11/2017 at 06:52

Coventry station does give you the feeling of being in the 1970’s once you step off the train. But it’s to be re-developed and revamped with new extra platforms to be built and bay platforms for local trains operating between Coventry and Nuneaton and between Coventry and Leamington Spa. So yes it does need a revamp.

Noam   03/11/2017 at 10:48

In my opinion it would be a shame to knock down the 1960s booking hall. It's a rare example of decent architecture from that period. It just needs refurbishing - additional facilities could be provided with additional buildings. Hiding passenger facilities under a car park is a mistake too - it's ironic hundreds of millions have been spent reversing that mistake just up the road at Birmingham New St.

Jake   03/11/2017 at 11:51

It seems like a wasted opportunity not to build two new platforms to the South, along with a fly-under to the West of the station, to allow the Nuneaton trains to arrive on the south side of the station and then continue on to Leamington, without having to cross busy WCML tracks, and have the much coveted half-hourly Nuneaton-Leamington service... as well as a bit more capacity for future services and wiggle-room for disruptions.

Peter Weston   04/11/2017 at 15:48

Coventry station is a grade 2 listed building & should not be allowed to be demolished. The booking hall area was only re-furbished & improved last year.

Andrew JG   05/11/2017 at 12:52

I agree with Peter. Coventry railway station opened in 1838 and was rebuilt in 1962. And is a grade II listed building which therefore it can’t be demolished. Which is why it will remain as it is. Even though it has seen parts of the station refurbished. Unlike Coventry Arena railway station that opened in January last year that is brand new. The station serves Coventry Ricoh Stadium (Home to Coventry City Football Club and Wasps Rugby Football Club), retail park and the North Coventry area aswell A444 Phoenix Way and is to the south of the M6 Motorway (Junction 3). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_railway_station

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