Nuneaton could see ‘rail revolution’ under plans

Under plans outlined by Midlands Connect, Nuneaton could see a doubling of services in three directions helping to deliver improved connectivity to Coventry, Leicester and Birmingham.

The uplift will be delivered by two schemes, the Midlands Rail Hub and the Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham project.

Midlands Rail Hub will see a doubling of services to Leicester and Birmingham, adding four additional trains an hour, or 48 extra trains a day, and 4.1 million extra seats a year for passengers. The Coventry to Leicester and Nottingham project will help deliver a further improvement to rail services on the Elephant & Bear Line, including a bay platform at Coventry station allowing an upgrade of local services between Coventry and Nuneaton to half-hourly, calling at Coventry, Coventry Arena, Bedworth, Bermuda Park and Nuneaton.

The project will also deliver a jobs boost, with more than 12,750 roles are expected to result from the Midlands Rail Hub programme with construction expected to run from 2025 to 2033.

In 2023, the previous Government committed to ‘full’ delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub. In February last year, an additional £123m was allocated towards the project, to progress the detailed engineering designs.

The Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham project will help deliver the next stage of the NUCKLE (Nuneaton, Coventry, Kenilworth, and Leamington Spa) project including a bay platform at Coventry station allowing us upgrade local services between Coventry and Nuneaton to half-hourly, calling at Coventry, Coventry Arena, Bedworth, Bermuda Park and Nuneaton.

Together with other service improvements as part of the scheme, there would be around £400m overall benefits including almost £150m wider economic benefits for the region.

Andrew Clark, Midlands Connect’s Head of Rail, said:

"We have worked incredibly hard over the last few years to pull together a package for Nuneaton that could deliver more seats and more trains for residents, commuters, and businesses.

"Our plans will bring improved connections, in three directions to Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham."

Jodie Gosling, MP for Nuneaton, said:

"Since my election, residents in Nuneaton have been telling me they want to see improvements to our rail network.

"Lack of services, overcrowded carriages and journeys without getting a seat are all too common for people travelling through Nuneaton.

"The additional 48 daily services provided by this scheme, and the reduced pressure on other routes will be a welcome addition at Nuneaton railway station.”

Sue Tonks, Chair of the FSB, said:

"As a Nuneaton business owner and Regional Chair for the Federation of Small Businesses, I am overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed increases in connectivity from Nuneaton to Coventry and Leicester, as well as other neighbouring towns and cities.

"Anything which will bring more business and visitors to Nuneaton is to be commended. It opens up an opportunity for improved travel across the East and West Midlands.

"Valuable for jobs, tourism, and sport, this project will also improve our local travelling times and availability.”