Railways around Coventry

NeilsYard, I've taken some pictures of the new fence (the workmen were blocking a photo last week). They have also replaced the fence on the other side. A concrete block has appeared underneath the arch. As the archway closure is only temporary I assume the concrete block will move when they have finished. Closing the level crossing is currently a legal requirement (it is an "additional complementary measure") for air quality improvment. The Council are currently trying to talk themselves out of it. Peter.

"Deadline looming over plans for new railway stations in Nuneaton" - report

Peter, doesn't that document refer to the state of the air quality within a certain area - not specific to the crossing itself? In any case, if deemed required and singled out, I would have thought they would be able to make a full underpass at Coundon couldn't they? I know it's on a bus route but tbh, if air pollution was such a concern they should have enforced complete EV solutions in on public transport ages ago.

Hi NeilsYard, The full Local Air Quality Action Plan had two options: - The Councils preferred option (Travel planning + Low emission Taxis + Cycling infrastructure + Holyhead Road mitigation + Marketing and communication) - A Benchmark option (Clean Air Zone + Holyhead Road Mitigation) The Holyhead road mitigation measures are: o Peak time restrictions for Holyhead Road at J8; o Removal of the traffic signalled junction of Holyhead Road and Barras Lane; o Closure of the Coundon Road level crossing (to enable removal of junction control above); o Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) ban on Holyhead Road between the railway bridge and J8 of the ring road; o Capacity improvements on the B4106 through Spon End; o Upgrade of ring road J7 to further support additional traffic rerouting on the B4106; o Enhance the walking and cycling routes from Spon End into the city centre. Closing the level crossing is unpopular and the Council is now considering opening Hill Street (at the end of Coundon Road) up onto the Ring Road. This is proving equally unpopular with St Osburgs school. A bridge would need 5m clearance, the approach slope for a bridge would be ~50-70m long. The internet suggests a price of £5-10million. Most of the local bus fleet has been updated with low emission buses. Electric buses are only just becoming established (50 electric buses in London out of 8000). Peter.

A sure sign of autumn is the appearance of the the "Railhead Treatment" (leaf clearing) trains. This is a Bescot-Euston working passing Spencer Park. Peter.

Hi all More railway stations for Coventry.

Philip, Don't hold your breath! I think this is just councillors after some cheap publicity. The West Midlands 30 Year Rail Strategy was published in January and doesn't mention any new stations in Coventry so they have missed the boat in that respect. The reference to the Clean Air Zone is a red herring. This has to be implemented by 2023 and is too short a timescale. The Arena station took 4 years from when funding was approved and that will have taken 2-3 years. Kenilworth took 10 years from first proposal to opening. Operationally Coundon and Foleshill stations are not a problem as the trains have a long layover in Nuneaton before returning, but standards (eg platform width was 6ft, now 8.5ft) have changed and there may not be space for the new stations. Binley/Willenhall station is on a 100mph section of line and stopping a train would add about 2-3 minutes to the Coventry-Rugby section time and this would need a major re-write of the West Coast main line timetable. Sadly newspapers seem happy to copy and paste press releases etc. without asking any awkward questions. Peter.

Hi Peter The issue that gives me just a hint of optimism, regards anything public transport in Coventry, is the political pressure to cut pollution, or at least to be seen to be cutting it. A couple of times I have seen men in suits looking at the railway south of the current Holbrook Lane bridge, not the old site adjacent to Durbar Avenue. Time will tell. Thank you for your post.

Hi Phil, There are a number of issues pushing transport policy towards walking/public transport (lack of capacity and pollution are the main ones). Unfortunately Coventry is behind the curve on this; taking out bus lanes and building more car parks (=more cars) at The Wave and the railway station. I think the people you have seen near the Lockhurst Lane flyover are looking at repairs/replacement of the flyover as it is in "fair condition" (the same as part of the Ring Road they have just done up). I suspect a new bridge to the south (through the builders merchant) is being planned, either as a permanent replacement or a temporary structure. There are long term plans to electrify the Coventry-Nuneaton line and this would almost certainly require the bridge raising (difficult with the shops on the approach road). Peter.

STRIKE WARNINGS West Midland Trains (inc LNW) senior conductors are going on strike on Saturdays from 16th November to 28th December. This is a dispute about driver only operation of trains (no senior conductor). A similar dispute on South Western Railway is now in its third year. This is likely to be very disruptive as WMT are already short staffed. Virgin Trains senior conductors are striking on Tuesday 19th November in a dispute over a disciplinary hearing. Peter.

Just come across my photo from 2007

Good evening My Pam's illness, which at present she is responding well to her second bout of chemo in twelve months, has severely restricted my out & about activity, but possibly a blessing on two counts for me, seeing the ramshackle state of our national rail network as well as our local rail network in particular. What a disgrace! I am enjoying my carer duty to Pam, which has in turn kept me away from the rail chaos that is plaguing our region. I am sometimes guilty of posting with tongue in cheek, which I do hope invites constructive response to what might be sensitive suggestions or accusations. I am only too aware of our forum members who are extremely well versed in the science of our railways. Listening to the Midlands News this evening, as well as the live wireless interview earlier today with a high ranking official who is at the head of possibly our biggest train company, I tell you, I smell a rat of incompetence. Forgetting the guards' dispute issue that might now possibly have just been settled, the main problem was not having sufficient staff or trains to operate the full timetable that started last May. He admitted that today. Am not trying to be, or sound clever, but the crucial instrument for timetable construction is what industry calls CPA or CPT, critical path analysis or technology. I came across it constantly in construction. It has formula that ensures that the foundation materials arrive at the right time. Get it wrong & instead, the roof tiles arrive first. I bet that guy hasn't got a clue! The manner of his reply to two questions posed by disgruntled passengers leave me in little doubt. What do we think???? Being really honest, I hope that I am totally wrong in smelling a rat on this issue.

Hi Phil, I'm glad Pam is making progress. The main issue with the new timetable is that everything is stretched just a little too thinly so if things go slightly wrong it gets magnified. If a train arrives into New Street ten minutes late, it leaves ten minutes late. But the driver and guard (sorry conductor) also change trains and have a statutory break. Because these are set as close to the minimum as possible, they will be late for their next trains so one late train has delayed two others (and each of these delay another two later on). Similarly the trains have a very short turn around at the termini (down to 7 minutes at Rugeley after a 3 hour journey) so a late arrival means a late return working and there is no opportunity to "recover" the lost time. The railways also rely heavily on "rest day working" (overtime). The drivers like this because they can earn a lot more money. Companies like this because they can employ (and train) less staff. The Unions like it because they stop rest day working and cause disruption without a strike ballot (because it isn't contracted). The big issue on the railways which nobody wants to address is virtually no staff are contracted to work Sundays and it is all done by local agreement. Peter.

Goodbye Virgin Trains who will run their last trains tomorrow (Saturday 7th Dec) after having the West Coast franchise for 22 years. The red trains are a pale white awaiting their new livery. Welcome Avanti West Coast, a joint venture between First Bus and Trenitalia (Italian Railways). Their five year mission to run trains that others have run before. New Hitachi trains to replace the Voyagers and refurbishment of the Pendolinos. Otherwise not much change until/if HS2 comes along. Peter.

Here we go again - The British Privatisation Disease at its most virulent. The paradox of "Privatisation at any price" blindly promoting the running of rail services in this country by yet another foreign State. Do they really understand the meaning of so called "sovereignty"? Isn't it odd that other states can run railways but ours can't? Is there an equivalent of the UK Government running a rail franchise with a partner, in another country? Not with their record I would suggest. Are we seriously meant to believe that the Italian Government is going to deliver a disaster to the Italian taxpayers? They believe they can make it pay - certainly, their economy cannot withstand a loss!