EXPANSION plans at Coventry Railway Station to build a new platform could be scrapped, documents reveal.
Construction of a ‘bay platform’ to double train services to Nuneaton is a key part of the station masterplan development – but delays have dragged on for years.
The board of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership has been told by the Coventry City Council’s transport boss, Colin Knight, that the council cannot afford any tenders submitted to build a bay platform.
Mr Knight told the CWLEP board: “The project received two tenders in September 2019, both of which were over the available budget… while savings have been identified by the bidders this hasn’t been sufficient to make the scheme affordable.
“Network Rail have provided an alternative proposal which is still significantly over the available budget.”
The spiralling cost in the first phase of the redevelopment – to dig a tunnel beneath Warwick Road and build a retaining wall – has diminished the project’s budget for a ‘Nuckle scheme’ platform.
In 2016, the Observer revealed how completion of the new platform as part of much-delayed Nuckle scheme to connect Nuneaton-Coventry-Kenilworth-Leamington had been held up for a further two years, when the council stated the first trains on the new bay platform would arrive by the end of 2017.
The Nuckle platform project was first put forward 10 years ago.
Mr Knight confirmed the project will be delayed again, telling the board Coventry Council has turned to the Department for Transport to fund the platform, “with one option to deliver the scheme as part of the Midlands Rail Hub.”
The CWLEP has deemed phase three of the station masterplan to be one of its most severe risks. having spent £27.5million supporting the £82million scheme.
Keith Kondakor, Warwickshire County Councillor for Weddington (Greens), commented: “This fiasco shows they cannot afford to build the extra platform for improved rail services to the Ricoh Arena and Nuneaton. Only parking, buses and vanity works will be done in time for City of Culture 2021.
“The Nuneaton to Coventry project started in 2008 and has had no leadership driving it forward.
“We need a plan and proper project management plus a more helpful rail industry to make these things happen.”
