NEW railway stations in Coundon, Foleshill and Binley in Coventry could be on the right track after councillors pledged to start a feasibility study.
New stations on Coundon Road, and in Binley and Willenhall, received support from the Coventry City Council on Tuesday (October 15).
The proposal to build smaller stations outside Coventry city centre was placed by shadow cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, Councillor Peter Male.
Coun Male said: “I’m delighted that we were able to secure cross party support for our idea to look at the feasibility of two new rail stations in Coventry.
“They would give people a viable alternative to the car so it makes sense to explore the possibility of these new stations in the city – new stations are opening right across the West Midlands.”
At the full council meeting, the Labour group also supported the plan, and added another proposal to also build a new station to Foleshill.
After the meeting, the council’s Conservatives said: “Coundon, Binley and Willenhall were suggested by Conservatives because of their strategic locations. Coundon Road station is situated close to Bablake School – which attracts a lot of traffic from outside of the city, as well as an air quality hot spot.
“A new station on the east of the city is desirable as there are currently no stations to the east of Coventry within the city boundary.
“The station in Coundon opened to passengers in 1850 and closed in 1965, it was originally named ‘Counden Road railway station’.
“Much of the original architecture is still in situ and station buildings are now used by the adjacent Bablake School.”
Councillor Gary Ridley, the leader of the council Conservatives, added: “Whatever way you look at it people won’t ditch the car until viable alternatives are available.
“There’s been a huge growth in the number of passengers using rail travel in Coventry in recent years. So I’m very pleased that we now have unanimous agreement to explore the idea of opening these new rail stations in the city. A quality public transport system can help to reduce pollution and congestion and fewer car journeys mean quicker car journeys plus we’d all breathe cleaner air.”
Earlier this year, Warwickshire County Council discussed plans to build a railway station at the King’s Hill development near Finham.
The county council is compiling a new rail strategy, which it says will benefit the ten million passengers who travel on the county’s train lines each year.
The plans, to 2034, would extend services from the ’north-south corridor’, which includes Coventry and Leamington stations – to the East Midlands and Thames Valley, including stops at Oxford, Reading and Nottingham.
Councillors at Warwickshire say a station between Kenilworth and Coventry would improve connections to Warwick University and thousands of homes at King’s Hill, the development on Warwick District green belt to the South of Coventry.
Warwickshire’s Rail Strategy report said if the plans were approved the station would be built between 2026 and 2033.