• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Coventry Station revamp

Status
Not open for further replies.

OwlMan

Established Member
Joined
25 Jun 2008
Messages
3,206
Location
Bedworth, Warwickshire
It looks like the Coventry Station revamp will get the go-ahead this week

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/n...on-plans-transform-coventrys-railway-15404640
£82million plans to transform Coventry's railway station to take step closer
The plans are described as a "complete modernisation of the train station"
An £82million plan to transform Coventry's railway station and create a "major transport hub" for the city is set to be rubber-stamped by the council.
The scheme, which is led by the Labour-run authority, is being taken to the council's planning committee on Thursday, November 15, after years of fine-tuning.
Plans include a second station building to provide a second entrance facing onto Warwick Road, with the site also housing five retail units.
A bus interchange service will also connect to the station via a new access tunnel underneath, which is already under development.
A second footbridge will then connect all four platforms, while a new bay platform will allow for two trains per hour between Coventry and Nuneaton.
Additionally, the project includes a 644-space multi-storey car park and road improvements, including a new road connecting Central Six to the Ring Road.

The revised Coventry railway station masterplan
Costs have markedly increased from the initial £20-£30m estimates but the plan is seen as key to the city's growth.
Coventry's population is expected to rise by around 15 per cent, the equivalent of 50,000 people, by 2021 - the fastest in the West Midlands.
The number of passengers is also growing year-on-year, rising 80 per cent to 5.4million passengers between 2008 and 2012, with numbers expected to rise double by 2043.
£11m extra - the rising cost of redeveloping Coventry railway station
Work is hoped to be completed by the end of 2020, and the city council's cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, Councillor Jim O'Boyle, feels upgrades are long overdue.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The station is the fastest growing rail station outside of London, but it hasn't had any serious upgrades since it was built in the 60s. It has needed these.
"People want a good impression when they come to a city. Now people's first impression will be a brand new station, walk out to the boulevard, and then walk straight into the city centre.
"£82m is a significant investment. It is a complete modernisation of the train station.
"But it's not just about making the station nicer, it's practical in terms of making sure that people use that important transport corridor of Nuneaton down to Leamington, and fulfilling the opportunities that the Ricoh presents.
"People come to the station to go to Coventry University, to Warwick University, for links to Jaguar down in Whitley and of course the hospital, so having a station which is a major transport hub is really key to our overall development and transport offer as a city, and that's important."
A council report published ahead of the meeting said the plan is acceptable and "provides a high quality building which will provide the extra station capacity required".
Rail operators including Network Rail and Virgin Trains are partnered in the proposals, as are stakeholders including Transport for West Midlands and Friargate Coventry.
Funding is already in place with grants from West Midlands Combined Authority, CWLEP Growth Deal, Department for Transport, and the council.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

neontrix

Member
Joined
6 Jan 2017
Messages
34
The railways' lack of design and aesthetic strikes again - a lovely 1960s simple, refined station being topped off by what looks like a big red shipping container. Why would it be impossible to have continuity of architecture or design? It always seems to be impossible in a lot of projects.
 

eastdyke

Established Member
Joined
25 Jan 2010
Messages
1,923
Location
East Midlands
The railways' lack of design and aesthetic strikes again - a lovely 1960s simple, refined station being topped off by what looks like a big red shipping container. Why would it be impossible to have continuity of architecture or design? It always seems to be impossible in a lot of projects.
Not every station building can be an achitectural masterpiece :)
I am pleased if the locals get something that they want, that it is efficient and that it is affordable.
A bit of bull for the those locals in a linked article:
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/11m-extra-rising-cost-redeveloping-12501601
Coventry station is the fastest growing outside London and is the most used outside of London and Birmingham New Street.
More than six million passenger trips a year are made at the station and it is due to rise to 7.5m in the next seven years.
LOL.
To put that in perspective Cambridge station usage is already approaching 12 million pa and they plan to build 1 million homes in the arc between there and Oxford by 2050.
I am pleased for Coventry.
 

ForTheLoveOf

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2017
Messages
6,416
Not every station building can be an achitectural masterpiece :)
I am pleased if the locals get something that they want, that it is efficient and that it is affordable.
A bit of bull for the those locals in a linked article:
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/11m-extra-rising-cost-redeveloping-12501601LOL.
To put that in perspective Cambridge station usage is already approaching 12 million pa and they plan to build 1 million homes in the arc between there and Oxford by 2050.
I am pleased for Coventry.
Perhaps they mean 'most used on the WCML' which I suppose is feasible at a guess.
 

eastdyke

Established Member
Joined
25 Jan 2010
Messages
1,923
Location
East Midlands
Perhaps they mean 'most used on the WCML' which I suppose is feasible at a guess.
Perhaps, but perhaps they really don't know what they mean :)
To the West Midlands (from London) they might nearly be right though Moor St., Birmingham International and Milton Keynes might cut it close. They would need to count Watford (definitely more pax) as London - which it isn't!
 

ForTheLoveOf

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2017
Messages
6,416
Perhaps, but perhaps they really don't know what they mean :)
To the West Midlands (from London) they might nearly be right though Moor St., Birmingham International and Milton Keynes might cut it close. They would need to count Watford (definitely more pax) as London - which it isn't!
It's within the M25 and so I think in this context it justifiably counts as London. Moor Street isn't on the WCML!
 

eastdyke

Established Member
Joined
25 Jan 2010
Messages
1,923
Location
East Midlands
It's within the M25 and so I think in this context it justifiably counts as London. Moor Street isn't on the WCML!
Yes! I drifted off WCML without permission - to limit it to West Mids. just so I didn't need to count Piccadilly and Lime St. as WCML :)
 

pdeaves

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,632
Location
Gateway to the South West
Please could someone 'in the know' clarify for me?
Is the intention to:
  • flatten the existing station (including structures on the platforms) and replace it?; or
  • flatten front part of the station and replace it?; or
  • 'just' stick a bit on top of the front part of the station?
Perhaps I look in the wrong places, but none of the information I have seen makes it clear what will happen! Thanks.
 

neontrix

Member
Joined
6 Jan 2017
Messages
34
The planning application can be found here - there are several drawings that show this is basically a multi-storey car park being built on the western side of the station with a new footbridge and concourse underneath the car park.

Not every station building can be an achitectural masterpiece :)
I am pleased if the locals get something that they want, that it is efficient and that it is affordable.
Not every station has to be an architectural masterpiece - but there is a middle ground between a masterpiece and a red shipping container on stilts.
 

eastdyke

Established Member
Joined
25 Jan 2010
Messages
1,923
Location
East Midlands
The planning application can be found here - there are several drawings that show this is basically a multi-storey car park being built on the western side of the station with a new footbridge and concourse underneath the car park.
Not every station has to be an architectural masterpiece - but there is a middle ground between a masterpiece and a red shipping container on stilts.
I quite like shipping containers, they have many uses ;)
Thank you for the link, 'rubber stamping' hopefully at the Planning Committee meeting 15th November.
 

Aictos

Established Member
Joined
28 Apr 2009
Messages
10,403
I know it's not mentioned but is it possible at all to slightly remodel the layout so that the platforms at Coventry can be used for any service regardless of direction much like Birmingham International, how much of a help or hindrance would this be to day to day operations there?

Other then that, the plans sound great for Coventry so roll on completion date!
 

matt

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Global Moderator
Joined
30 Jun 2005
Messages
7,812
Location
Rugby
I know it's not mentioned but is it possible at all to slightly remodel the layout so that the platforms at Coventry can be used for any service regardless of direction much like Birmingham International, how much of a help or hindrance would this be to day to day operations there?

Other then that, the plans sound great for Coventry so roll on completion date!

Other than platform 1 towards Leamington that is already the case.
 

OwlMan

Established Member
Joined
25 Jun 2008
Messages
3,206
Location
Bedworth, Warwickshire
Other than platform 1 towards Leamington that is already the case.

No - platforms 1 & 2 are not available for through services from Rugby or Leamington. Northbound or westbound departure from 1 & 2 is only available to trains reversing in the platforms.
 

InterCity:125

Member
Joined
15 Jul 2018
Messages
352
Location
Bristol
but there is a middle ground between a masterpiece and a red shipping container on stilts.
In my eyes all shipping containers on stilts are masterpieces of architecture.
:lol:
I mean, the red house Plymouth pulled it off, how hard can it be?
942D97C5-E13F-4BB5-90A9-9DF946F75E6D.jpeg
 

Ianno87

Veteran Member
Joined
3 May 2015
Messages
15,215
I know it's not mentioned but is it possible at all to slightly remodel the layout so that the platforms at Coventry can be used for any service regardless of direction much like Birmingham International, how much of a help or hindrance would this be to day to day operations there?

I always think the level of operational flexibility is about right at Coventry. Wrong direction moves are fairly pointless most of the time due to the frequency of traffic coming the other way. A Nuneaton-facing bay platform would be next on the list for me.
 

Mikey C

Established Member
Joined
11 Feb 2013
Messages
6,830
I've never though Coventry station was especially bad, to me it does the job quite well. There are far worse bits of Coventry that need money spent on them first!
 

The Planner

Veteran Member
Joined
15 Apr 2008
Messages
15,838
They do, but they are in a no lose situation. Platform is finished, they start services, platform is late, "not our fault mate, here is our claim for lost revenue"
 

pt_mad

Established Member
Joined
26 Sep 2011
Messages
2,960
They do, but they are in a no lose situation. Platform is finished, they start services, platform is late, "not our fault mate, here is our claim for lost revenue"

Ah right. When realistically do you think it will end up complete?
 

Aictos

Established Member
Joined
28 Apr 2009
Messages
10,403
Just wondering but apart from the work already been announced, is there anything else that could be done to improve the station?
 

Meerkat

Established Member
Joined
14 Jul 2018
Messages
7,420
So will there be two completely separate concourses facing people walking out from the city centre, old one to the left and new one to the right? Seems a bit confusing.

What they need is low level platforms so trains can be grade separated (these crayons need taking away...)
 

swt_passenger

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Apr 2010
Messages
31,267
So will there be two completely separate concourses facing people walking out from the city centre, old one to the left and new one to the right? Seems a bit confusing.
A little bit like Reading, where the new ‘main entrance’ giving direct access to the transfer deck, from the south, allows you to completely avoid the original ticket office and entrance that were left in place. That station of course also gained another major entrance on the north side.
 

Mordac

Established Member
Joined
5 Mar 2016
Messages
2,303
Location
Birmingham
Can they remove the tiles reminiscent of a public swimming pool for something a little more upmarket?
 

Aictos

Established Member
Joined
28 Apr 2009
Messages
10,403
So will there be two completely separate concourses facing people walking out from the city centre, old one to the left and new one to the right? Seems a bit confusing.

What they need is low level platforms so trains can be grade separated (these crayons need taking away...)

I can't see a issue with there being two entrances; London Blackfriars has two entrances either side of the Thames, Leighton Buzzard has two entrances, Edinburgh has two entrances as well so I can't see why it would be confusing for people heading to the city centre.

As to low level platforms, they aren't needed as the current setup works just as well and will work even better when the new Nuneaton Platform is built.

My only question about the platforms which the @The Planner probably has a good idea of the answer but what happened to the idea of running Nuneaton to Leamington Spa via Coventry?

Has that been kicked into the long grass for now because I know they're building a bay platform for Nuneaton services so makes the service a tad more self contained if that's at all possible but just wondering if by building this bay platform it's going to mean the proposal above will not happen?
 

The Planner

Veteran Member
Joined
15 Apr 2008
Messages
15,838
Ah right. When realistically do you think it will end up complete?
2020 I expect.
My only question about the platforms which the @The Planner probably has a good idea of the answer but what happened to the idea of running Nuneaton to Leamington Spa via Coventry?

Has that been kicked into the long grass for now because I know they're building a bay platform for Nuneaton services so makes the service a tad more self contained if that's at all possible but just wondering if by building this bay platform it's going to mean the proposal above will not happen?
The trains are in the timetable from December I think, Im not convinced they will work very well though, could be wrong. The bay platform is for the extra Cov to Nuneaton service, you cannot do 2tph without the bay.
 

Meerkat

Established Member
Joined
14 Jul 2018
Messages
7,420
Surely the XC, freight, and now locals, coming from Birmingham/Nuneaton and crossing to the Leamington line must create a few capacity issues?
 

HLE

Established Member
Joined
27 Dec 2013
Messages
1,405
2020 I expect.

The trains are in the timetable from December I think, Im not convinced they will work very well though, could be wrong. The bay platform is for the extra Cov to Nuneaton service, you cannot do 2tph without the bay.

News to me but then we’re usually the last to know. I don’t think they’ll join up the service until the 172’s are operating the route. Hopefully we gain an extra 153 on the Nuneaton’s in the next month or so as the 230’s are introduced on the Bedford route. Certainly help in the peaks if the capacity is doubled.

I really can’t see the Leamington - Nuneaton service being as reliable as the Nun-Cov shuttle. Crossing over at Coventry will cause delays pretty much from day 1.
 

Meerkat

Established Member
Joined
14 Jul 2018
Messages
7,420
Not if you build low level platforms.....damn it, the crayons escaped again!
 

HLE

Established Member
Joined
27 Dec 2013
Messages
1,405
Haha might have to cancel the JCB that was on order to construct them!

Seriously don’t like the idea of sending a single dogbox, especially in the peaks from Nuneaton direct through to Leamington. Let’s do it properly with 172’s in May.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top