Kenilworth Railway Station moves a step nearer to reality

11.47.44am GMT Wed 24th Feb 2010

A key stage in developing a new railway station for the town of Kenilworth will be decided tomorrow by Warwickshire County Council. The Cabinet is being asked to give the go-ahead to the purchase of land currently owned by Buildbase, off Priory Road and Lockhart Close in Kenilworth. This land is crucial to the development of the new station, which when completed is forecast to handle more than 700 trips a day.

The station dream is one step closer to reality for John Whitehouse

Cllr John Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat, Kenilworth Abbey) has campaigned for the station for a number of years before and since being elected to the County Council in 2005 He welcomed the latest development, saying:

"Securing the site for the station will move the the whole project one step closer to reality. We're now waiting for the new business case to be completed by the council with its partner John Laing, and I'm confident that this will show that a station for Kenilworth will be a great success."

Nigel Rock, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Kenilworth & Southam, also welcomed the news, saying:

"A town the size and importance of Kenilworth needs a station, both for the benefit of its own residents and to help boost the important local tourist economy. The Liberal Democrats in Kenilworth were the first to campaign actively for a station many years ago, and have been consistent supporters since. It's been a long haul, but it really looks as if we're getting there now."

NOTES:

Kenilworth has a population of nearly 24,000 and since the closure of the old Kenilworth station in 1965 the population of the town has increased by 50%. The initial business case forecast a total of 770 single trips per day using Kenilworth station with an estimated capital cost of £6.1m (2008 prices).