A NEW train station in Rugby and upgrades to turn the existing one into a ‘destination’ and a ‘transport hub’ are among proposals to improve rail services across Warwickshire.
Under the proposals, Rugby Parkway station – plans for which were put on ice a year ago – would be built near Houlton off the A428 Crick Road on vacant land between existing housing and the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT).
And Rugby Station would be made into Rugby’s ‘transport hub’ by fully integrating bus, cycle and pedestrian routes with the station and adding more parking spaces.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) announced the moves as part of a new strategy to improve the rail network between now and 2034.
The council says the strategy looks at how HS2 – which is set to run between Birmingham and London, with 54km cutting through the heart of Warwickshire – can benefit the local network.
The £11million Rugby Parkway station would have 360 parking spaces and initially run two trains to London every hour, serving the 6,200 new homes being built at Houlton as well as employees at DIRFT.
An artist’s impression of how Rugby Parkway station could look.
Plans for the existing Railway Terrace station include highway improvements, renting vacant space for office or cafe use, expanding parking to the south of the station, faster and more frequent trains, and “a greater range of connectivity opportunities”.
A report to councillors said: “Rugby Station is one of Warwickshire’s busiest stations with over two million passenger journeys per annum, with this figure forecast to double by 2040.
“It is vital that Rugby Station can cater for this growth and to better integrate the station into the town.”
While welcoming the ‘forward-looking’ views of WCC, the Rugby Rail Users Group (RRUG) committee expressed reservations about the timing and priorities.
RRUG chair Stephanie Clifford said: “The council’s push to make Rugby Station a transport hub makes sense, as the station is halfway between the old and new town.
“RRUG members have floated the idea of development to the north of the station, which could be a bigger win than the council proposal to increase parking and road access to the south.
“The council could also encourage walking and cycling to Rugby station, instead of viewing it as a challenge to clear more road space for commuters’ cars.”
She said RRUG did not think the Rugby Parkway station would be possible until after HS2 opens.
“The track and many of the trains are already full,” she said. “We note that the car parking proposed at Rugby Parkway has increased substantially from the previous proposal, which may mean it is not a station for local people at all, but will attract drivers from the M1.
“Clearly, there will be some demand from Houlton, so in the longer term the provision of a station may be justified.”
A council spokesman said: “The arrival of HS2 presents a significant opportunity to enable passenger service and freight enhancements, new connectivity opportunities and new stations serving Warwickshire to be delivered, thereby maximising the economic benefits to Warwickshire.”
The council says funding would come from bids to government and would use ‘innovative ways’ of securing the money needed without using council funds.
The strategy has been approved by councillors to go to public consultation before going to cabinet for approval in December.
