15.01.16
Long-awaited NUCKLE stations open next week
The long-awaited stations built as part of the Coventry to Nuneaton Rail Upgrade will finally open on 18 January after months of delay to the £13.6m investment scheme.
Work to build the new Bermuda Park and Coventry Arena stations kicked off in April 2014 after much delay due to final funding confirmation, with an opening date scheduled for May 2015. RTM spoke to Ian Walters, managing director of SLC Rail, in November 2014 about the latest developments on the upgrade.
But this opening date was later pushed to June 2015 because of issues at Coventry Arena, with a relocation of a signal being the main cause for delay. RTM spoke to Walters once again about the issue.
According to London Midland, Bermuda Park will be the 150th station to join its network, coming packed with 30 free car parking spaces, with Coventry Arena boasting 80. Timetables can be found here.
The completed stations are, however, just the first part of the plan – locally known as NUCKLE – to develop the route from Nuneaton to Coventry and Coventry to Leamington Spa, with later work still required for a new platform at Coventry and a new station at Kenilworth.
Overall, the investment is expected to give better rail access to jobs, businesses, leisure and education across Coventry and Warwickshire while reducing significant road congestion.
Cllr John McNicholas, Coventry City Council lead member for transport, said: “It's taken a while, certainly longer than we had hoped for, but finally the stations will be open and I'm delighted about that.
“Although the station at the Ricoh won't be open directly after match or on major event days until Wasps, Coventry City Football Club or events sponsors charter trains, the new service will still provide lots of advantages for local people.”
The upgrade plan is being delivered in partnership by Centro and the Coventry and Warwickshire councils, with additional funding brought in by the Department for Transport and the European Regional Development Fund.
(Top image c. snowmanradio)