West Midlands Railway has announced that Kenilworth station will open its doors and have its first train since the mid-1960s this Monday when the new station opens its doors.
A passenger using the new station will benefit from an hourly service between Coventry and Leamington Spa which will be operated by West Midlands Railway.
The Kenilworth Station project has been funded by Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Warwickshire County Council, and £4.9m from the Department for Transport's New Stations Fund.
Passengers will also benefit from a cycle park and ticket vending machine. The station is fully accessible and is step-free.
What did the officials say?
Monica Fogarty, Joint Managing Director of Warwickshire County Council, said:
“Now that the station is opening it is time to celebrate the completion of a very complex project and for the town of Kenilworth to celebrate that once again it has got a rail station. This will provide a real boon for the local economy, bringing visitors to the town and also giving Kenilworth residents the opportunity to travel across Warwickshire without having to get in the car.
“My heartfelt thanks go to all the people of Kenilworth who have shown such patience while the work was being carried out. I am sure the new station will make it all worthwhile.”
Richard Brooks, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said
“This additional service between Coventry and Leamington Spa, calling at Kenilworth, is a great example of how West Midlands Railway is helping to boost the local economy, opening up new journey opportunities, linking people and places across the region.”
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said:
“Kenilworth station is a fantastic addition to the rail network. It will provide local people with regular services to Coventry and Leamington Spa and connections with services across Britain.
“The station supports our Railway Upgrade Plan and is an example of how third party investment can support economic growth while providing a better railway for passengers.”
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:
“We are currently investing in the most significant upgrade to our railways since Victorian times with faster, more comfortable trains and a greater number of services.
“Our New Stations Fund has provided £4.9 million to reopen Kenilworth station which has been closed for more than fifty years, to offer a vital service for passengers. Stations like Kenilworth have the potential to create jobs, connect communities and grow the vital economy here in the West Midlands”
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Cross country will not be calling as the platform is too short and there is insufficient capacity in the timetable to accommodate a call
Right. So Crosscountry trains will not stop at Kenilworth but West Midlands Railway trains will stop there as the platform can accommodate 2-Car trains. I understand now. Thanks for the information.
About 5 times it has been postponed. But thank goodness it’s finally going to reopen since the former railway station in Kenilworth, Warwickshire closed in the 1960’s. It was due to open back in December last year but then it was put forward to March but still wasn’t completed. But now it’s finally happening.
Plus WM Trains that are inheriting the Class 172’s from London Overground could operate not just on the Coventry-Nuneaton line but also to operate on the Coventry-Leamington Spa line with Kenilworth to reopen on Monday 30th April. Plus some Crosscountry trains could also stop at Kenilworth. And there could be plans to rebuild the short platform on the other side of the station so that it would be extended along with a new passing loop being built to allow trains to pass each other and to stop at Kenilworth. With platform 1 used for trains heading from Leamington Spa towards Coventry & Birmingham and platform 2 for trains from Birmingham & Coventry heading towards Leamington Spa, Banbury and Oxford.