Kenilworth railway station
Developing the financial and economic case for a new station in Kenilworth, winning the buy-in of train operators, securing funding and managing the design and delivery through to opening.
Project Overview
Kenilworth’s new station provided a much-needed rail service for the town’s 25,000 population. It is on the site of the old Kenilworth station (closed in 1965) and is served initially by an hourly diesel shuttle service running between Leamington Spa and Coventry.
This project was the second phase of a larger scheme known as NUCKLE (Nuneaton, Coventry, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa). NUCKLE was a programme of strategic rail upgrades to reduce traffic congestion and support the economy of the Leamington Spa to Nuneaton corridor. The first phase of NUCKLE delivered new stations at Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park.
Partnering through a framework agreement as rail advisors to Warwickshire County Council, we developed the scheme from initial aspirations through a successful application to the New Stations Fund, and we managed the procurement and delivery of the design and build contract through to full station opening.
Developing and delivering the scheme
We supported Warwickshire County Council throughout the development of the case for Kenilworth Station through to Stage 3 of the Network Rail GRIP process, including the preparation of the council’s New Stations Fund bid, which resulted in its formal acceptance and £5m contribution to its funding. We were also responsible for:
- Preparing the financial and economic business case.
- Planning the train service and passenger timetable.
- Developing the station design.
- Developing track and signalling designs.
- Working with Network Rail and the prospective service operator, London Midland.
- Ensuring the station aligns with the Department for Transport’s strategic plans.
After that, we managed the scheme to the end of GRIP Stage 4, with outline designs accepted by Network Rail, including:
- Negotiating rail industry agreements relating to the train service timetable and the trains operating the service.
- Negotiating enabling agreements and contracts to support the development, design, and construction of the infrastructure, including surveys, demolition, and site clearance.
- Management of the design, including obtaining third party consents.
- Procuring a contractor for detailed design and construction (GRIP Stages 5 to 8).
- Achieving Network Change establishment without any objections through advance consultation with operators.
Delivering the scheme
As the Council’s representative, we managed the detailed design and construction phase through to full approvals and put the station into service. Our team provided full-time project management, design management, and commercial and construction management.
Early in the detailed design phase, the planned doubling of this stretch of track was cancelled due to the Hendy Review. Working with the Council and contractors, a solution was agreed upon, with modified designs that still give residents on both sides of the railway line step-free access without the cost of a second platform.
A public consultation led to the station building being designed in a heritage style to fit the surrounding architecture. Our team engaged in depth with the designers to ensure that essential details, including stained glass and signage from the old station, were preserved.
During the ground works, a mains sewer required rerouting around the new station and platform pilings. Working within a confined space, an innovative approach was needed to avoid disturbing the shallow foundations of a neighbouring structure.
We also managed the construction of the new station building, platforms, footbridge, and car park, as well as signaling changes, decommissioning a nearby level crossing, and slewing the track to bring it to the correct distance from the platform.
Opening the Station
The SLC Rail team worked with Network Rail and other specialists to provide the detailed Safety Justification required for approval by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR). The station opened to the public on Monday 30th April 2018. It is served by an hourly service to Leamington Spa and Coventry.
“The rail knowledge and expertise of the SLC team was critical to the success of the bid to the New Stations Fund for Kenilworth Station.”
Cllr Peter Butlin, Transport and Planning Portfolio Holder, Warwickshire County Council
