Coventry City and Nottingham Forest football clubs have written to the Transport Secretary and the Culture Secretary to support a potential rail link that would connect Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham to boost economic growth in the Midlands.
The rail link, planned by Midlands Connect, would reinstate direct rail services between the three cities for the first time in two decades.
The letter signed by the sports clubs says improved rail connections between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham would help to reduce emissions from match-going fans by offering supporters a reliable alternative to the car. The link would also increase home and away attendance in the major sports grounds and entertainment venues of the Midlands, providing a boost to the local economy.
Interviews with Coventry City, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest fans showed an appetite for improved rail connections for fans in the Midlands.
John Taylor, COO at Coventry City, said: “For Coventry City and other football clubs, transporting fans efficiently and sustainably is incredibly important.
“This project will help increase attendance and create an easier journey for people using the Coventry Building Society Arena for non-sporting events.
“Connecting the three major cities is massively beneficial for sports clubs like Coventry City, and other local businesses.”
Andy Clark, Head of Rail at Midlands Connect said: “Currently only 3% of journeys on the Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham corridor are made by train, compared to 30% between better connected cities such as Coventry and Birmingham.
“We plan to have a direct, half hourly service with a journey time of 40 minutes from Coventry to Leicester and 70 minutes from Coventry to Nottingham, which would improve the journey for thousands of sports fans and other customers travelling between the three cities”.
