A NEW railway station on the main line between Rugby and Coventry is being considered by transport bosses.
Coventry East Binley station is under consideration by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE).
It is among five proposed stations in the region which has been identified as having the strongest case for development.
It follows the award of funding from the West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) to investigate and plan the next phase of station development.
Once complete, the business cases could be used to secure further Government funding to design and build the new stations.
Delivery of some of the new stations is also linked to the completion of HS2 which will free up capacity for more local services on existing rail lines, as well as completion of the Midland Rail Hub project to increase rail network capacity into central Birmingham.
TfWM and WMRE say three of the new stations need to be planned now so they can be built and ready to open alongside Midlands Rail Hub and HS2.
The authorities say Coventry East Binley will benefit from greater capacity for local services following completion of HS2.
Birmingham City Council’s transport spokesman Coun Ian Ward said: “Our rail station developments proposals are about both growing our local economy, better connecting people to job and leisure opportunities and assisting our move towards a net zero carbon region.
“And these stations are the ones that most match these aims and, although it may take time to deliver, we are starting the planning now so when the funding becomes available we are ready to go with a sound plan of action.”
The other proposed stations are in Foleshill, Castle Bromwich, Balsall Heath in Birmingham, and Tettenhall in Wolverhampton.
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and the WMRE are already overseeing the growth of the rail network in the region with construction work currently under way on five new stations – three on the Camp Hill line in south Birmingham at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road, and two on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line serving Darlaston and Willenhall.
Last month, Warwickshire County Council held a public consultation on outline plans for Rugby Parkway Station, on the Northampton loop of the West Coast Mainline between Rugby and Long Buckby stations.
The station, to be located next to the A428 Crick Road near Houlton, will be served by two trains per hour in each direction, travelling between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.
Following the consultation, an application for outline planning permission is due to be submitted.
