WEST Midlands Combined Authority said it remains ‘confident’ a new station at Coundon Road can still happen after concerns were raised by Coventry Citizens Party leader Cameron Baxter.
Mr Baxter contacted the Observer after Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) announced they would be exploring the feasibility and business cases for five new stations across the region, including Coventry East (Binley) and Foleshill.
The proposed Coventry East (Binley) station would be on the main line between Coventry and Rugby, while a potential Foleshill station would operate on the Coventry-Nuneaton line.
But Mr Baxter said he feared any plans for a new station at Coundon Road had been dropped.
He also raised concerns about the proposed Foleshill station, claiming the city council has previously said that congestion in Foleshill is caused by through-traffic heading towards the A444.
Coventry Conservatives and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street have been campaigning since 2019 for Coundon Road station, which closed in 1965, to reopen.
They also called for the proposed Binley station, with Labour councillors adding their support as well as suggesting the Foleshill station.
A West Midlands Combined Authority spokesperson said the new stations’ study included an assessment of Coundon Road station, but this identified the Foleshill and Coventry East had stronger cases for undertaking more development work.
“This assessment looked at several different criteria to identify which stations have the strongest case for further work at this stage – including which ones are most likely to attract future funding.
“Coundon Road was assessed as having not as strong a case, primarily due to its proximity to the city centre meaning that its catchment area overlaps with Coventry station.
“So whilst we remain confident that Coundon Road can still happen, we must prioritise which projects we do first, meaning for the time being we’ve decided to concentrate on those stations that are currently best placed to draw in further funding.”
