rail

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is investing £4.75m for the construction of two new stations on the Coventry to Nuneaton rail line.

As part of the £13.6m scheme, the two new stations will be built at Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park. The funding also covers upgrade of the platforms at Bedworth station on the rail line.

The new Bermuda Park station will feature two platforms, waiting shelters, stairs and ramps, ticket machine, CCTV, cycle parking and 30 car park spaces, according to nuneaton-news.co.uk.

Upgrade to the platforms at Bedworth Station will involve extension to allow transit of longer trains that will carry more passengers.

The new stations and the extension upgrade are intended to boost passenger access to the transport route, while providing enhanced travel links to major developments along the line including Friargate business district, next to Coventry railway station.

"These rail improvements are great news for passengers in the West Midlands, who will now have easy public transport access to tens of thousands of jobs."

Local transport minister Susan Kramer said: "These rail improvements are great news for passengers in the West Midlands, who will now have easy public transport access to tens of thousands of jobs in Coventry, Bedworth and Nuneaton.

"The £4.75m funding put towards this project shows our commitment to investing in the infrastructure this country needs to drive economic growth, both locally and nationally."

Work on the stations will begin in May and are scheduled to complete in May 2015. Warwickshire County Council is a joint partner with nearby Coventry City Council in the project.

In December 2013, the DfT approved the allocation of £5m to build a new station to allow operation of new local services between Coventry, Kenilworth and Leamington Spa in December 2016.

Image: £4.75m investment will build two brand new stations and upgrade another. Photo: Gov.UK/Department for Transport.