Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Cross Country services => Topic started by: IndustryInsider on June 03, 2013, 10:05:34



Title: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 03, 2013, 10:05:34
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Worcester Parkway doesn't look like it's about to make the final approved list of stations from the government's new stations fund.  Surprisingly, perhaps, nor does Kenilworth, with the three probably candidates being Ilkeston (Derbyshire), Pye Corner (Newport West) and Lea Bridge in Walthamstow.  Hopefully this scheme will be extended in future years to allow the likes of Worcester Parkway and Kenilworth to open sooner rather than later.

Then again, perhaps it's not too late for Kenilworth...

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/06/03-new-station-announcement-may-be.html (http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/06/03-new-station-announcement-may-be.html)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 03, 2013, 12:17:14
Confirmed (provisionally).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kenilworth-new-station (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kenilworth-new-station)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: paul7575 on June 03, 2013, 13:55:13
100m platforms.

That seems to suggest a new service pattern possibly involving extension of an existing LM route,  because XC would not be able to stop there with 5 car 221s.  It would be impractical to diagram only 4 car 220s, I've always assumed XC assign the different train types only loosely?

Paul


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: brompton rail on June 03, 2013, 14:36:42
LM trains to Coventry are all electric however, with the exception of Nuneaton shuttle. To extend Nuneaton services to Leamington would require two services per hour to cross all tracks at Coventry, surely a non starter?

Chiltern don't have any services that terminate at Leamington either, unless the poor Stratford service is diverted to Coventry. This would require a franchise change though, as well as removing London services from Stratford. LM only run to Leamington in the peaks anyway. 

The 100m platforms would seem to rule out XC's desire to divert Reading (etc) to Newcastle services via Coventry as there would be capacity problems with 2 extra services per direction per hour. Capacity between Coventry and Birmingham is the current issue for these XC services anyway.

A Leamington - Kenilworth - Coventry only service would not seem to be a great deal for Kenilworth passengers, surely Birmingham is their preferred destination.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: paul7575 on June 03, 2013, 14:41:48
Surely capacity for XC to run their second service via Coventry (and electrification) was/is already being dealt with as part of the CP5 HLOS proposals previously announced?

But we're getting a bit far away from Worcester, and don't really need to drag this out of area matter out...

Paul


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on June 03, 2013, 15:07:16
Surely capacity for XC to run their second service via Coventry was/is already being dealt with as part of the HLOS proposals previously announced?

But we're getting a bit far away from Worcester, and don't really need to drag this out of area matter out...

Paul

I'm going to split the thread tonight if I get a chance, Paul (unless someone else is around to do it in the meantime).

It IS a useful topic - though perhaps under "Cross Country" .. Kenilworth is virtually identical in population to Melksham, where a station was re-opened but there has never been a reliable, appropriate, advertised service.   Joinedup thinking is needed to ensure that Kenilworth station doesn't become a construction project, with services at just 06:38 and 19:11 to Nuneaton, and 07:20 and 19:50 to Leamington Spa, each day.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on June 03, 2013, 15:29:17
I'm going to split the thread tonight if I get a chance, Paul (unless someone else is around to do it in the meantime).

Cough, splutter!  :o

I've taken grahame's gentle hint, and split / moved this topic accordingly.

Hope this helps!  Chris.  ;)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: ChrisB on June 03, 2013, 15:34:46
There was rumour of an announcement today?.....Possibly only for Kenilworth, as the Minister was paying them a visit....


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Red Squirrel on June 03, 2013, 16:08:52
Yes, there's an off-topic discussion of this on the 'Worcester Parkway' thread. Blimey, wouldn't want to be an admin on this forum, blinkin' minefield...


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: ChrisB on June 03, 2013, 16:55:55
Quote
A Leamington - Kenilworth - Coventry only service would not seem to be a great deal for Kenilworth passengers, surely Birmingham is their preferred destination.

Well, it seems that is what they will get - an hourly service run by London Midland - according to the Leamington Observer (http://www.leamingtonobserver.co.uk/2013/06/01/news-Kenilworth-to-secure-funding-for-new-railway-station-72771.html) who published this on Saturday.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on June 03, 2013, 17:12:00
I'm going to split the thread tonight if I get a chance, Paul (unless someone else is around to do it in the meantime).

Cough, splutter!  :o

I've taken grahame's gentle hint, and split / moved this topic accordingly.

Hope this helps!  Chris.  ;)

Many thanks, Chris ... I have been teaching a keen class today, and there was a risk strong probability that I would get halfway and then get called away if I had tried to do the split earlier on.

Yes, there's an off-topic discussion of this on the 'Worcester Parkway' thread. Blimey, wouldn't want to be an admin on this forum, blinkin' minefield...

The admin and moderation job here is surprisingly pleasurable - made such by a great team doing that role, and a fantastic lot of members.   But there's a lot to look out for at times; I note your application not to join us  ;D


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 04, 2013, 10:21:01
LM trains to Coventry are all electric however, with the exception of Nuneaton shuttle. To extend Nuneaton services to Leamington would require two services per hour to cross all tracks at Coventry, surely a non starter?

Chiltern don't have any services that terminate at Leamington either, unless the poor Stratford service is diverted to Coventry. This would require a franchise change though, as well as removing London services from Stratford. LM only run to Leamington in the peaks anyway. 

The 100m platforms would seem to rule out XC's desire to divert Reading (etc) to Newcastle services via Coventry as there would be capacity problems with 2 extra services per direction per hour. Capacity between Coventry and Birmingham is the current issue for these XC services anyway.

A Leamington - Kenilworth - Coventry only service would not seem to be a great deal for Kenilworth passengers, surely Birmingham is their preferred destination.

The original proposal, called NUCKLE, was for an hourly service from Nuneaton to Leamington Spa via Coventry and Kenilworth (hence the name), so I assume that is still the desired plan? To be initially operated by diesel, but then later on by electric trains?  Crossing the tracks at Coventry will of course put pressure on that junction, but I can't see how that would make it a 'non-starter', and would have the benefit of not clogging up a platform at Coventry for as long as if it was just a Leamington-Coventry shuttle that operated.

I agree that Birmingham would be an better destination than Coventry or Nuneaton, but the only way I can see that happening is if the current hourly shuttle from Birmingham International to New Street starts back at Leamington Spa, calling at Kenilworth and Coventry, then Birmingham International.  Or possibly if it made a couple of extra calls at Tile Hill and Hampton-In-Arden that would have the added benefit of allowing those calls to be removed on the LM service from Euston to Birmingham via Northampton, and knock off a few minutes from what is currently a pretty slow link between two large places like Northampton and Birmingham.  For that to make sense you'd need Leamington to Coventry wired sooner rather than later though, so it depends how quickly Network Rail can get that done.

Still, the final plan is for Network Rail to work out, and that's why the 'wider picture' caveat has been included in yesterday's press release.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Red Squirrel on June 04, 2013, 10:25:28

The admin and moderation job here is surprisingly pleasurable - made such by a great team doing that role, and a fantastic lot of members.   But there's a lot to look out for at times; I note your application not to join us  ;D


I didn't mean to rule out the possibility of lending a hand!


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: ChrisB on June 04, 2013, 10:26:46
I can see the electrification of that line only being done within the project that will electrify the full 'electric spine' for freight....


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 04, 2013, 10:42:02
I can see the electrification of that line only being done within the project that will electrify the full 'electric spine' for freight....

Yes, that line is definitely being electrified (and fully redoubled) as part of the 'electric spine' project, and as I said it's just a question of how quickly that bit is done as to what form the Kenilworth service might take to start with and then be subsequently developed over the years.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: paul7575 on June 04, 2013, 11:00:50
As I understand it the current version of 'NUCKLE' has given up on crossing the layout at Coventry, hence no longer including Leamington - to the extent that the enhanced Nuneaton service 2 tph and extra stations) is going to get and use a new bay west of the down main platform, to keep it out of the station entirely.

Paul


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 04, 2013, 11:23:04
Yes, that's how I understand it too - though with the announcement of Kenilworth station the full scheme may now once again be back on the agenda, as it would provide a pretty useful south to east of Birmingham orbital service.  Perhaps extending and increasing the frequency of the current Moor Street to Leamington stopping service to Coventry also might work, though that would mean a reversal at Leamington Spa and I'm guessing the through journey time to Birmingham would be slower than going up to Coventry and changing, but at least that would be a diesel operated option. 

I guess we'll have to wait for an announcement when the various options have been researched.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Gordon the Blue Engine on June 05, 2013, 17:56:43
I can see the electrification of that line only being done within the project that will electrify the full 'electric spine' for freight....

Yes, that line is definitely being electrified (and fully redoubled) as part of the 'electric spine' project, and as I said it's just a question of how quickly that bit is done as to what form the Kenilworth service might take to start with and then be subsequently developed over the years.

I hesitate to take issue with II (but it's not stopping me!) on a detail, but I recall that Coventry - Leamington Spa was never double all the way.  I remember, as a trainspotter at Coventry in the 50's, that 41902 and 41909 ran the 2 shuttles between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa Avenue (as it was then), and there was a short single track section I think with one end at Gibbet Hill and the other at Kenilworth Junction, where the line joined from Berkswell.  I remember trains, latterly dmu's of course, stopping at Kenilworth.   


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on June 05, 2013, 18:15:00
That's quite possible - I was just presuming it used to be double track as most similar routes usually were when first built.  I know it's a slightly awkward route in terms of gradients and condition of the ground it runs over.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on December 12, 2013, 14:01:27
Kenilworth station funding confirmed today:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-for-kenilworth-station (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-for-kenilworth-station)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: ChrisB on October 02, 2014, 11:15:32
Test trains for future Coventry-Kenilworth Station-Leamington rail service to run this Saturday

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/KENLWTH/2014/10/04/0000-2359?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt

Unfortunately, several of us will be in Taunton


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 23, 2014, 19:26:18
From the Coventry Telegraph (http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/revealed-design-new-12million-kenilworth-8149709):

Quote
Revealed: Design of new ^12million Kenilworth train station

Nearly 600 people voted, with a traditional design based on the former town station taking the most votes

(http://i2.coventrytelegraph.net/incoming/article7944888.ece/alternates/s615/station.jpg)
Artist's impression of Kenilworth Rail Station option A.

The design of the new ^12million Kenilworth Railway Station has been revealed after a public vote.

Nearly 600 people cast their votes on three designs put forward by Warwickshire County Council and option A ^ based on how the original station, which closed in 1965, would have looked ^ proved the overwhelming favourite receiving 71 per cent of the vote.

The new station, which will be built in Priory Road, has received funding from the Department for Transport^s New Station Fund to the tune of ^5million. The rest of the cash is being provided by local transport bodies and Warwickshire County Council.

Coun Peter Butlin, portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: ^For many years there has been the enthusiasm for a new station in Kenilworth and the benefits it will bring to the town. I^m looking forward to the start of construction next year and making the station and the new rail services a reality.^

Construction work will start on the station next summer and will include a bus stop, a park-and-ride and a car park. For more information visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/kenilworthstation.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Rhydgaled on November 23, 2014, 23:20:30
Quote
Nearly 600 people voted, with a traditional design based on the former town station taking the most votes

... the overwhelming favourite receiving 71 per cent of the vote.
I'm not the only one who thinks traditional is better then, so why do NR, the TOCs and even (I think) a firm called 'heritage designs' keep inventing ways to vandalise perfectly good architecture. Just look at the plans for Aberystwyth (the trashing of which I have seen in progress), (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/assets/0/72/4294967297/30064771426/30064774268/30064774269/959fb552-9fa9-476b-90de-1137f195d80d.jpg) Shrewsbury (http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/05/11/passengers-unhappy-at-shrewsbury-rail-station-plans/29083924/) and, perhaps worst of all, Cardiff Central (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/transformation-cardiff-central-station-visionary-7440621).

Oh, and Heritage Designs? Don't know if they were responsible for the errors, but the comparison at the end of one of my 'Trains For Fishguard' videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iiHnQQX9mw) should make clear that the new building has none of the character of the original. The council tried, apparently, but somehow it has utterly failed.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: ChrisB on November 24, 2014, 08:56:23
More from the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-30150778)

Quote
Designs for a new railway station in Kenilworth have been unveiled.

It follows a public vote, which Warwickshire County Council said had "overwhelmingly" backed a traditional design based on the original building, which closed in the 1960s.

Work on the ^11.3m station is due to begin in the summer and services could stop there by the end of 2016.

The government gave its backing for the project in December 2013, after years of local campaigns.

The Department for Transport has provided ^5m in funding, with the rest coming from the local authority.

The council said more than 300 people gave their feedback at public exhibitions, with another 250 responding online or by post.

It said 94% backed the building of the new station on Priory Road.

More than 70% selected the "traditional" option inspired by the original station that closed as part of the Beeching cuts.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on November 24, 2014, 11:35:25
Looks to be a fine station building, far larger and better facilities than I imagined.  Interesting that a ticket office is to be provided, given the controversy over ticket office closures that eventual operator, London Midland, has been embroiled in recently.

Also, what an odd county flag Warwickshire has got, and it's logo based on the design must be one of the worst in the country!


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Trowres on November 24, 2014, 21:37:15
Eeh, the Cardiff design seems to be inspired by the "Eyesore of the month" website; e.g. see:
http://kunstler.com/eyesore-of-the-month/july-2014/ (http://kunstler.com/eyesore-of-the-month/july-2014/)

This site has been running for years - you can either follow the links to other months or tweak the date in the URL.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on March 01, 2015, 17:54:38
Good to see this nice little touch being applied to a station design that has already won praise:

http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-twist-for-town-s-new-rail-station-thanks-to-campaigners-1-6602890 (http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-twist-for-town-s-new-rail-station-thanks-to-campaigners-1-6602890)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on October 10, 2017, 12:28:41
Kenilworth on target to open on Sunday 10th December.

As expected a roughly hourly shuttle service (using a 153 presumably, though hopefully they'll find something longer for the first few days when the public gaze will be on it, and people will be trying it out?) running from 06:00-23:00 on weekdays.  Starts a bit later on Sundays and finishes a bit earlier on Saturdays but still an hourly frequency.  A shame it can't tie in with the Nuneaton-Coventry service due to pathing restrictions at Coventry, and a shame the times can't provide a more even Leamington to Coventry service which will double to become 2tph, but with departures typically at xx:01 and xx:14 from Leamington and xx:25 and xx:36 from Coventry the opportunity for a regular 30-minute service has been missed.  Not as easy as it sounds of course with pathing at Leamington and Coventry and on the single line sections between the two and plenty of intermodal freight vying for the paths.

Still, better than nothing and hopefully things can be tweaked a little over time.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Adelante_CCT on October 10, 2017, 12:55:15
Quote
using a 153 presumably, though hopefully they'll find something longer

Shhhhhh...... If a certain major forum member hears there is available stock that can replace a single 153, we'll never hear the end of it  ;)  :)


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Tim on October 10, 2017, 15:02:22
the new building has none of the character of the original. The council tried, apparently, but somehow it has utterly failed.

This is no accident.  It is a dogma of architecture and planning that although the new built is meant to be "in keeping" with the original, it should have a different (sometimes even contrasting) character.  The reasoning being that if it blended in too well it would detract from the original or be a pastiche of it.  You are always meant to see the join.  It is generally not a dogma which the public agrees with.  I live in a 1950s pebble dash semi of no architectural merit in Bath.  Most of our neighbours have built on an extension to the side.  Because this is Bath darling and the planners are so precious none of the extensions are allowed to blend seamlessly into the original house.  They are all set back by about a foot with consequential messy rooflines so that the integrity of the original design is preserved.  The houses all look slightly more ugly because of this requirement because every single extension looks "tacked on". 


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Rhydgaled on October 10, 2017, 17:35:23
the new building has none of the character of the original. The council tried, apparently, but somehow it has utterly failed.
This is no accident.  It is a dogma of architecture and planning that although the new built is meant to be "in keeping" with the original, it should have a different (sometimes even contrasting) character.  The reasoning being that if it blended in too well it would detract from the original or be a pastiche of it.  You are always meant to see the join.
That dogma I think was the case with the Shrewsbury changes I mentioned, but there is no 'join' at Fishguard & Goodwick because the original wooden building was demolished completely (at least half of it was beyond repair).


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on November 29, 2017, 16:09:02
Kenilworth on target to open on Sunday 10th December.

Looking like it might be off-target again now!  February 2018 being mooted.

https://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/opening-of-kenilworth-station-with-full-service-severely-in-doubt-1-8261652



Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: mjones on November 30, 2017, 20:51:56
Why is the station at the single track section? I thought part of the double track section was within Kenilworth, so wouldn't  that have been  a better location, with less impact on capacity? I hope there is space for doubling through the new station, as surely that bottleneck on  a busy line will  addressed eventually...


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Rhydgaled on December 03, 2017, 17:25:29
Why is the station at the single track section? I thought part of the double track section was within Kenilworth, so wouldn't  that have been  a better location, with less impact on capacity? I hope there is space for doubling through the new station, as surely that bottleneck on  a busy line will  addressed eventually...
I believe that two platforms are under construction, but the second will be mothballed until the double tracking actually happens.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on March 09, 2018, 17:04:43
From the Leamington Observer (https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/arrival-of-first-train-at-kenilworth-station-still-a-mystery/)

Quote
Arrival of first train at Kenilworth Station still a mystery

The first train was expected at the town’s new £13.6million station last December, but just days before the scheduled opening the Department for Transport (DfT) said no train or drivers would be available until February to operate a service on the line running between Leamington and Coventry.

But the DfT – which contributed £5million to the total cost of the project, with the remainder provided by local transport bodies and Warwickshire County Council – failed to deliver an opening date last month.

It has left both council chiefs and commuters frustrated.

A county council spokesperson said: “We are working with our partners in the rail industry to finalise the opening date for Kenilworth station, and beginning of services at the station. We hope to confirm this date as soon as possible.”


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on March 22, 2018, 17:23:22
Kenilworth on target to open on Sunday 10th December.

Looking like it might be off-target again now!  February 2018 being mooted.

https://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/opening-of-kenilworth-station-with-full-service-severely-in-doubt-1-8261652



And now "Sometime in April" ...
https://www.facebook.com/MidlandsBBC/videos/10156143254604761/


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on April 16, 2018, 13:58:14
From the Kenilworth Weekly News (https://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/top-official-of-rail-regulator-authorises-kenilworth-station-1-8457425)

Quote
A top official of the national rail regulator announced he 'authorised Kenilworth Station' on social media last night (Thursday April 12).

Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways at the Officer for Rail and Road (ORR), said: 'Today I have authorised Kenilworth Station' on Twitter at just after 8.30pm last night.

The ORR then retweeted him, saying: "Great news, Kenilworth station moves a step nearer to opening."

However, a firm opening date has yet to be announced.

Following the news, the joint managing director of Warwickshire County Council Monica Fogarty said: "I am delighted to say that the ORR has passed authorisation for entry into service subject to a number of outstanding items being finalised.

"All partners have worked extremely hard to move this forward so that the station can open as soon as possible.

"Once these have been finalised, we will be in position to confirm the date for the station to open."

JFDI!


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on April 22, 2018, 04:57:32
From The BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-43259340)

Quote
Kenilworth station is to open its doors to passengers on 30 April.

More details about timetables and ticketing will be made available later, but Warwickshire County Council said it had agreed the start date with West Midlands Trains.

Residents had been told the station would open in 2016.

Richard Dickson, of Friends of Kenilworth Station, said his excitement at the opening was muted as residents had waited so long.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on April 27, 2018, 06:17:28
Quote
Kenilworth station is to open its doors to passengers on 30 April.
More details about timetables and ticketing will be made available later,

From the Coventry Telegraph (https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/kenilworth-railway-station-opening-what-14575085)

Quote
Nearly 18 months after the original opening date, Kenilworth Station is finally set to open on Monday, with train services calling at the Warwickshire town for the first time since 1965.

Campaigners have battled for more than 30 years to get the station reopened, and at 6.16am on April 30, the first train will depart to Coventry, arriving at platform four some nine minutes later.

Originally, the station was set to reopen in December 2016, but the project has been delayed on more than one occasion since then.

Earlier this year, Warwickshire County Council’s joint managing director Monica Fogarty revealed services would start on Monday February 26, before West Midlands Railway dismissed this, saying that the opening would be "at least 5 March" - representing the fourth delay to the opening.

But Monday's date looks set in stone, with a full, albeit infrequent timetable now available on National Rail's website.

The first train to depart Kenilworth Station is set to leave at 6.16am for Coventry on April 30, but commuters will face a lengthy wait if they miss this.

Trains will depart at eight minutes past the hour, every hour until 9.08pm.

The final train will then leave at 10.25pm.

In the opposite direction, trains will head to Leamington Spa.

The first train is set to depart at 6.44am, and continues to run at 44 minutes past the hour until 9.44pm.

The final train will leave at 10.53pm.

All services at Kenilworth Station will be a single carriage West Midlands Railway service.

These services will run from Monday to Saturday, will no services on Sundays.

A single ticket will cost £2.60 without any railcard deductions, while a return will cost £2.90.

Frankly, I would love an hourly service at my local station, and an evening service too. 


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Richard Fairhurst on April 27, 2018, 08:33:08
Full timetable on RTT: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/KNW/2018/04/30/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt . Agreed - it's hardly an infrequent service nor are there any lengthy waits!


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Western Pathfinder on April 27, 2018, 17:40:41
This.
http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2018/04/27/kenilworth-station-to-open-on-monday/
If Camberwick Green had a Railway Station this is what it would of looked like 😉


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: martyjon on April 27, 2018, 18:44:59
This.
http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2018/04/27/kenilworth-station-to-open-on-monday/
If Camberwick Green had a Railway Station this is what it would of looked like 😉

Don't you mean  Ambridge next stop Hollerton Junction one way Felpeshum tother.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on April 30, 2018, 21:06:56
From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-43944399)

Quote
Kenilworth station has reopened to passengers after decades of campaigning.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on May 12, 2018, 23:33:21
... and how many of those other useful facilities would also be very welcome at ... well, Melksham, just for example ::) :

Quote
The station was designed in a partnership between Warwickshire County Council and the local train operator following consultation with local residents. It will feature an on-site retail unit offering a full range of tickets for travel across the UK, rail travel advice and a community café will open for business.

Passengers will also benefit from a covered cycle parking and a ticket vending machine. The station is fully accessible, with step-free access throughout, thanks to lifts and footbridge. It also has a new 72 space car park.

The design has embraced the history of the site, with two stained glass windows and a vintage sign salvaged from the original station building, demolished in the 1980s.  These features were donated by Kenilworth residents and have contributed to the heritage feel of the station, this having been requested by the local community.

I'd love to see Melksham Station move up into that level of service.  ;)



Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on May 24, 2018, 11:04:23
... and how many of those other useful facilities would also be very welcome at ... well, Melksham, just for example ::) :

I took a trip out to the West Midlands last week to see numerous things going on in the area, and was also keen to drop by Kenilworth.  My outward trip was on an early lunchtime train from Leamington Spa to Coventry.  The single car Class 153 that plies the route had about ten people on board from Leamington, roughly half of which got off at Kenilworth where another twenty or more joined me through to Coventry.  After visiting other places I returned in the evening to watch one the 18:00 from Leamington arrive at Coventry (very healthy loadings of about 50) and returned on that train at 18:36 from Coventry to Leamington.  There were around 30-40 people on board with 20 or so leaving at Kenilworth and a handful or so boarding.  A couple of hours wandering round the station and enjoying some fish and chips at the shop by the station and I then returned from Kenilworth on the 20:44 to Leamington (about 5 got off and one other including myself got on).

I don't know whether Graham has had a chance to take a visit to Kenilworth or has plans to do so, but general route and population similarities with Melksham are quite striking.  Kenilworth has a population of 22k with larger settlements either side at Leamington's (56k) and Coventry (over £300k), and when/if Nuneaton is added as a through route you have its 86k and Bedworth's 30k to add.  For Kenilworth read Melksham which has its own 20k, with the larger settlements one side of Trowbridge and Westbury (the combined population of 50k being comparable to Leamington), and the other side you have Swindon being the 'Coventry' of the route at 182k and Chippenham the 'Nuneaton' at 45k.  And of course Westbury/Chippenham/Swindon all offer connectional opportunities to other large places in the same way Leamington, Coventry and Nuneaton do.  Even the end-to-end journey times are similar at around 45 minutes.

The principal difference of course is frequency.  With the station finally opening it has 17 trains each way per day at a memorable hourly frequency, whereas Melksham only has around half that.  Kenilworth is arguably better sited for its inhabitants and has much better facilities - larger car park, proper station building with waiting room and cafe, and a much more welcoming area surrounding the station - but I know Melksham has plans to improve its offering in that respect.

I'll be very interested to see how the usage builds over the coming years, especially if trains are extended to and from Nuneaton as connections for through journeys (especially coming from Nuneaton) currently leave a lot to be desired.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: IndustryInsider on November 30, 2018, 19:08:19
Another chance taken today to see how the Kenilworth service is developing as I returned south from the Potteries to see a couple of shoulder peak services.

Hopping on the 16:36 from Coventry to Leamington I was amongst around 60-70 on the single car unit so whilst seats were available, they were not in plentiful supply.  That train leaves around 10 minutes after the previous Leamington service in the form of a packed XC service, so no doubt a few people prefer to wait for the local service, but I reckon about 30 passengers left at Kenilworth, with a dozen or so joining.  Watching the 17:00 to Coventry depart Leamington I counted around 50-60 people as it left.

The car park at Kenilworth looked just over half full.

I reckon 'Melksham fever' may well be reached pretty soon and a 1-car unit will no longer be adequate for the peak services.  Pleasing to see.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on November 30, 2018, 19:20:27
I reckon 'Melksham fever' may well be reached pretty soon and a 1-car unit will no longer be adequate for the peak services.  Pleasing to see.

Kenilworth and Melksham are very similar in population I think.  Of course Kenilworth has been started with an hourly service rather than every 2 hours - perhaps a lesson learned from Melksham where we're playing catch up with them on service frequency!

Delighted their train is busy.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: froome on November 30, 2018, 22:08:32
I reckon 'Melksham fever' may well be reached pretty soon and a 1-car unit will no longer be adequate for the peak services.  Pleasing to see.

Kenilworth and Melksham are very similar in population I think.  Of course Kenilworth has been started with an hourly service rather than every 2 hours - perhaps a lesson learned from Melksham where we're playing catch up with them on service frequency!

Delighted their train is busy.

I thought Kenilworth was larger, and Wikipedia confirms this, though not by much - 22k compared to 19k in 2011. I hadn't realised Melksham had grown that large. Perhaps due to the station?


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on December 01, 2018, 04:38:09
I thought Kenilworth was larger, and Wikipedia confirms this, though not by much - 22k compared to 19k in 2011. I hadn't realised Melksham had grown that large. Perhaps due to the station?

This is where you need to be very careful what you are comparing, and work out which figures to use when you're looking at facility provision - be it station, shops or sewage. And also look at time scales - last year, this year, next year, sometime, never.

The population of the City of London is around 9,000 ... but then The City is the "Square Mile" is the the historic centre and the primary central business district.   People work there and don't reside there.  Melksham has a similar but far less extreme division - Melksham Town with 19,000 in the 2011 census.  But then "The Parish of Melksham Without is in the Melksham Community Area. It surrounds the Town of Melksham and has a population of approximately 7,500."  And with a growth of the built up area, you can walk down a street and go from one to the other without seeing any border.  To complicate calculations, a significant number of residences that were built in Melksham Without can only be reached by road from the Town, and the whole thing got so absurd that a number of chunks of the without were moved within a couple of years back.

Treat the current population as being 27,000 rising by about 10,000 in the next 10 years.  And, yes, I can point out the sites where housing is being built or are earmarked.  A neighbourhood plan video (in which, regrettably, I appeared), co-ordinated by both Town and Parish will be out in a couple of months. It suggests safeguarding an eastern bypass route, building housing areas which are transport friendly and porous to allow buses, self drive pods, cyclists and walkers cohesive community connection, and protecting land at the station and on the routes to it to ensure good and continued transport hub development there.

Off topic - feel a split coming on, unless someone can add a good Kenilworth comparator. I suspect that with "without" they are much more similar than a casual reader might have guessed, and in other aspects other than raw population too.



Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: grahame on March 17, 2021, 21:58:40
From Kenilworth Weekly News (https://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/transport/kenilworth-could-be-without-a-train-service-for-most-of-this-year-as-rail-bosses-struggle-to-find-enough-trained-drivers-3169625)

Quote
Kenilworth could be without a train service for most of this year as rail bosses struggle to find enough trained drivers.

As we reported last month, rail services stopped in the town due to Covid cut backs, according to West Midlands Trains.

That was the stark message from Warwickshire County Council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe (Con, Stour and the Vale) following talks with West Midlands Trains and town MP Jeremy Wright.


Title: Re: Kenilworth Station - new project?
Post by: brooklea on July 31, 2021, 10:03:01
Report from Kenilworth Nub News  https://kenilworth.nub.news/n/ticketing-office-and-shop-at-kenilworth-railway-station-set-to-close (https://kenilworth.nub.news/n/ticketing-office-and-shop-at-kenilworth-railway-station-set-to-close)
Quote
The ticketing office and cafe at Kenilworth Railway Station is set to close this Autumn.

It would appear that the Transwilts line is not unique in suffering negative impacts as a result of an unreliable service… :(



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net