A train to celebrate the 458th birth anniversary of William Shakespeare. It operates at a maximum speed of 125 kmph on the Chiltern Line.
Train : The Shakespeare Express
Operator : Vintage Rail
Loco : GWR 4073 Class 7029 Clun Castle
The Shakespeare Express is a steam-hauled passenger excursion train that has operated since 1999. It operates two trips in each direction on selected summer Sundays from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon with a journey times of 60 to 70 minutes in each direction. The outbound journey operates via the North Warwickshire Line with the return using the Stratford to Leamington and Chiltern Main Lines.
It is operated by Vintage Trains, with traction generally supplied by Tyseley Locomotive Works although locomotives from elsewhere may be brought in on an as-required basis. As there are no turning locomotive facilities at Stratford-upon-Avon, the train operates with the locomotive running tender first in one direction.