Transport Secretary Puts The Brake On Ricoh Train Station

Last updated : 03 August 2009 By Covsupport News Service
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has put the block on any hopes of fast tracking plans for a railway line linking north and south Coventry and including a station at the Ricoh Arena.

According to the CT, Lord Adonis has written to Coventry City Council and attacked them for "unable or unwilling" for years to put forward a financially viable business case.'

The paper also says that the letter makes the following clams by Lord Adonis:

* The cost would be "greatly in excess of £20 million", the cut-off for "fast-tracking" minor schemes and bypassing the usual bureaucratic procedures.

* Trains running at least every half an hour - more on matchdays - would need to be subsidised by someone. The government would only put the money in after three years of the service running successfully.

* There is still no "workable" plan for handling crowds at the Ricoh before and after a major event, such as a match or concert.

* Difficulties obtaining a train operator to provide extra services for match-days, given different kick-off times and the possibility of extra time.

Of the whole project, including new stations at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton and the Ricoh, and new platforms at Bedworth and Coventry for six-carriage trains, Lord Adonis writes: "We have endeavoured to work constructively with Coventry City Council... but unfortunately despite taking a consistent approach to the key issues over the five years, the city council has been unable or unwilling to confront them and come up with a resolution."