Huge plans to improve town’s train services

NUNEATON TO BIRMINGHAM LINE IDENTIFIED AS A KEY PRIORITY

HUGE plans to improve Nuneaton’s train services have been revealed in a Midlands blueprint.

Under the newly revised West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy draft, the Trent Valley Station is in line for a major boost.

The Nuneaton to Birmingham line has been identified as a ‘key immediate’ electrification priority followed the NUCKLE line, which is between Nuneaton to Coventry and Leamington, as well as the line between Nuneaton and Leicester.

The draft also says there are three areas that have the great potential for growth and the Water Orton corridor (services between Birmingham and Tamworth/ Derby and Nuneaton/ Leicester) has the highest growth.

By 2026 - Coventry - Nuneaton two trains per hour when infrastructure available.

Between 2031-2040 - Higher frequency Nuneaton -Coventry - Leamington.

Another aspiration, between 20262031, is for new Coventry to Leicester to Nottingham services. It has been dubbed ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to better connect the three great cities.

But this comes with some controversy for Nuneaton as this draft plan proposes a ‘dive under’ at the local station. This ‘dive under’ would mean that the trains may not stop at the local station, meaning that local residents would miss out on being able to catch the train that would provide a link to the cities.

All of the proposals are contained within the draft strategy. It is currently out for public consultation for people can have their say.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council leader, councillor Kris Wilson, said: “Having this recognition of Nuneaton as a strategic area for rail infrastructure improvement is good news for our borough. As a council we will be responding to the consultation favourably.

“We have seen an increase in our population that justifies greater rail connectivity to the surrounding Midlands and beyond, and this would make great use of our location at the heart of the country.”

The consultation can be found online and the deadline for all comments is 11.59pm on November 28.