Warwickshire News Mine

Enhancements are to be delivered far more cost effectively to stations across Warwickshire following the signing of the Warwickshire Quality Rail Partnership on Monday by directors from Network Rail, Central Trains, Chiltern Railways, Virgin Trains and Warwickshire County Council.

The signing will mark the official start of the partnership, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said “The overall trend in the numbers of rail passengers in Warwickshire is one of sustained growth with rail travel becoming increasingly important.

“As a result, Warwickshire County Council has, and continues, to place a high priority on rail in delivering its integrated transport policy and has made substantial investments in providing improved rail facilities.  The county council also places a high value on Partnership, which is a key aspect of our Local Transport Plan, and is hugely encouraged by the senior level of rail industry interest in the partnership.”

Rail Minister Tom Harris said: "We are already investing record amounts in the railways - in projects such as the West Coast Mainline, and schemes like the new station at Coleshill. The Quality Rail Partnership will make funding go further, and deliver more improvements for the money.  We are keen to encourage closer partnership working between local authorities and the rail industry, which will mean real benefits for passengers."

The county council sees the partnership as a major step forward in improving communication between the organisations involved and helping to make station improvements a reality more quickly.

For some time, Warwickshire County Council has worked in partnership with different train operating companies and Network Rail on individual schemes across Warwickshire.

In early 2004, a start was made on the ‘Five Stations’ strategy covering stations in the Warwick area.  The strategy was successful and was enlarged to include all stations in the south of the county. In 2006 this became a countywide ‘Warwickshire Quality Rail Partnership’ which covers all 22 stations across the county, including Coleshill Parkway which is due to open in January.

Steve Kennett, Deputy Regional Director for the Government Office for the West Midlands, said: “Warwickshire is making good progress on delivering its Local Transport Plan targets for rail.  Partnership working is essential to success in this area and the Government Office welcomes the additional commitment which this new Partnership represents”.

Steve Banaghan, Managing Director of Central Trains, said: “By joining together we have created a large pool of potential projects that can be delivered in any given year.  If a project is delayed for some reason then it is easy to progress another one on the list. With this flexibility, funding isn’t lost and there is an ongoing programme of work. This is how our biggest scheme to date at Bedworth was brought forward to this year with £164,000 being spent to transform the station.” 

The partnership has the opportunity to secure value for money both for the partners and existing and potential passengers. This is achieved because delivery and funding resource for the schemes are shared.

Cath Proctor, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said: “Partnership working is able to create ‘added value’ in schemes. Recently, at Leamington Spa station, Chiltern Railways and Warwickshire County Council worked together to deliver an upgrade to the station subway, which included both improved lighting and new tiling. Previously the scheme only included improved lighting.  An added benefit is that by carrying out the works at the same time total costs are also reduced.”

Chris Gibb, Managing Director of Virgin Trains (Cross Country), said: “Better station facilities increase passenger satisfaction and gets more people on trains. The Partnership isn’t just about big schemes as the small improvements make a real difference. It’s simple things such as providing passengers with improved access routes to stations, providing up to date train information, providing secure cycle parking facilities and improving personal safety.”

Malcolm Drury, Regional Director (South) of Virgin Trains (West Coast), said: “An upgrade of Rugby station is currently under way as part of the West Coast Route remodeling scheme. The Partnership offers the chance for further improvements to the station in the future for the benefit of all users.”

Cllr Martin Heatley, went on to say: “The county council is pleased to make available capital to fund station improvements. Train operating companies often have limited capital to fund station improvements but can make available the revenue to maintain them. There are many stations in Warwickshire where improvements are not commercially viable for Train Operators. External funding is often necessary to ensure improvements can be made.”

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