Test train marks station milestone

A team of officials jumped aboard a London Midland test train on Saturday to make the return journey between Leamington to Coventry - stopping outside Kenilworth’s station site along the way.

Jeremy Wright MP and county councillor Peter Butlin, were joined by representatives from London Midland, SLC Rail and members of ‘A Station for Kenilworth’ (ASK) for the run.

And Mr Wright described it as an exciting step forward after years of campaigning and work to get to this stage.

“Getting the necessary funding was crucial, but steps like the one we witnessed on Saturday show that, after decades of trying to secure a station for Kenilworth, the project is now really happening,” he said.

Cllr Peter Butlin, portfolio holder for transport, described the day as a “real milestone” to reinstating a passenger service by 2016.

The town’s passenger rail line and Priory Road station were both closed in 1965 and official bodies and rail enthusiasts have spent decades trying to reinstate the service.

After being awarded a £5million boost from the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, the new station build on the former site will finally go ahead in 2015.

Warwickshire County Council and transport bodies made up the remainder of the £12million needed.

An exhibition will be held at Kenilworth Library later this month to give residents more information on the station project and have their say on how it could look.