Media

Own goal scored in Coventry stadium rail station fiasco, say campaigners

27 August 2015

27 August 2015

Campaign for Better Transport responds to fans of Coventry City FC and Wasps RFC being told they will not be able to use the new, soon to be opened, Ricoh Arena rail station to get to and from matches due to safety fears and lack of trains.  

Martin Abrams, Public Transport Campaigner, Campaign for Better Transport said:

“Fans have waited years for a much needed rail station to be built at the club and it is quite unbelievable that they are now being told that they will not be able to travel to and from the stadium by train on match days. 

“Not being able to use the station is a real waste of public money and undermines its purpose which is to get fans off the road and get them straight to the game by rail which is something our research, Door to turnstile: Improving travel choices for fans, has shown fans want.

“Also, the claim by London Midland that they can only run one single, 75 seat, diesel carriage due to the lack of available trains is something we are seeing right across the country and the Government must act now and work with Train Operators to sort out this problem.” 

Ends

For further information please contact:

Richard Watkins, Press Officer, at Campaign for Better Transport on 020 7566 6494 or richard.watkins@bettertransport.org.uk

Notes to editors

  • The new station at the Ricoh Arena is due to open next month as part of a £13.6million project to improve the Nuneaton to Coventry rail line.
  • Coventry City Council’s Safety Advisory Group have also said the station needs to remain closed on safety grounds for an hour after matches due to the sheer volume of fans who would want to use the station. 
  • In 2013 Campaign for Better Transport  looked at what problems football fans have getting to matches without the car, with a survey of more than 1,000 fans. Our recommendations showed that a lot can be done to make getting from door to turnstile easier. Read our report here – Door to turnstile: Improving travel choices for fans
  • Campaign for Better Transport is the UK’s leading authority on sustainable transport. We champion transport solutions that improve people’s lives and reduce environmental damage. Our campaigns push innovative, practical policies at local and national levels. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929)

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