A rail bottleneck near Coventry and signals in Nuneaton could be improved as part of a £7 billion package in the Midlands.

Rail watchdogs in the area have backed the plans by Railtrack to invest £52 billion nationally over the next 12 years.

But they have called for guarantees that the cost of the changes will not be passed on to the passenger.

Some money announced yesterday by Railtrack is committed for particular projects.

Others, including track widening between Birmingham and Coventry and improving the signals between Nuneaton and Peterborough, could get the go-ahead if more funding can be found from other sources.

Railtrack already hope to spend £7 million on closing the level crossings at Canley and Tile Hill railway stations as part of a scheme to improve the line and allow more trains to run.

But the scheme has run into fierce opposition from residents and Coventry City Council over the impact on roads in the area.

Railtrack Chief Executive Gerald Corbett said:

“In total the £52 billion forms the menu that we choose from and it includes maintenance and renewal. We would like to focus, though, on the next five years and what we could and should deliver.”

Philip Davis, chairman of the Midlands Rail Users' Consultative Committee, said:

“I am pleased that Railtrack has recognised that the continued increase in passenger demand requires investment to combat current and future bottlenecks in the region.

“The fact that there will be more money spent must be good news, but it must continue, year on year”.

However he noted that Railtrack’s plans called for a rise in access charges of up to £1 billion, some of which will come from income from fares.

He added:

“Passengers will need to be convinced that any increase in fares is justified by an increase in performance and an enhancement to services. We will be watching the investment position closely on their behalf”.