Rail benefits? Don’t hold your breath!

The news this week that there are plans to electrify the route is encouraging. As was pointed out the bridges were all raised to accomodate this many years ago, but to no avail. Then in 1974, the route was made an InterCity one and trains came through Kenilworth linking other existing routes. As an example, in the 1990’s, a train called ‘The Sussex Scot’ left Brighton and ended up at Edinburgh some hours later passing through Kenilworth. The Liverpool Lime Street to Poole Harbour and the Scunthorpe to Looe both passed through Kenilworth .

There will be expenses here. Although the line between Coventry and Leamington was largely double track, between Coventry Station and roughly where Leasowes School is and from Common Lane Bridge, Kenilworth to Leamington was double track. In recent years, apart from a passing loop through Kenilworth Common it has only been single line track. All bridges will be able to accomodate double track as they did prior to 1964, with one exception and that is the bridge over the A46 Kenilworth bypass which did not exist in 1964 and the section between Common Lane bridge and the area adjacent to Leasowes School which has never had double track which will need extra bridges. These should not be insurmountable obstacles and will bring bigger benefits to Warwickshire than HS2 will for a fraction of the cost. But don’t hold your breath! We are dealing with politics here. - Richard Poynter, via email.