Send trains to Coventry

Regional News reports that a daily train service from Coventry to Leicester has been advocated ( RAIL 843). In some ways, this is a commendable suggestion, but it surely doesn’t go far enough to co-ordinate the services bordered by Rugby, Leamington Spa, Birmingham, Leicester and Lichfield.

We currently have a shuttle service from Nuneaton to Coventry, and a service to be introduced from Coventry to Leamington via the new Kenilworth station - when it opens - with through journeys from Nuneaton to Leamington requiring a change at Coventry.

Until January 1965, when the Beeching axe fell, we had a through service from Nuneaton to Leamington Spa (Avenue). We also had a reasonable service from Rugby to Stafford, and an effective Birmingham-Nuneaton-Leicester service.

Why not think a little further outside the box by introducing hourly services from LeamingtonCoventry-Nuneaton-Tamworth-Lichfield ( Trent Valley ), and Leaming ton-Coventry-Nuneaton-Leicester on the half hour? Retime the Rugby to Lichfield to hourly, giving a half-hourly service from Nuneaton to Lichfield Trent Valley with trains from Leamington Spa.

These services, coupled with an hourly service from Birmingham to Leicester via Nuneaton, would give a half-hourly service to Leicester. There would also be a Lichfield-Leicester link.

While services wouldn’t be exactly half an hour apart, there would be two trains per hour on the routes - and the track is in existence.

A further suggestion is to reopen the Hawkesbury Lane station (renamed Hawkesbury Village), to reflect the housing development at the end of Blackhorse Road and to make shopping easier with the station at the Coventry Arena.

There would then be no requirement for a bay platform at Coventry, and maybe some joined-up thinking. Barrie Parsons, Bedworth