Shakespeare Express

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.[1][2][3] The outbound journey operates via the North Warwickshire Line with the return using the Stratford to Leamington and Chiltern Main Lines.[4][5]

Shakespeare Express

4965 Rood Ashton Hall hauling a Shakespeare Express service through Lapworth in July 2016
Overview
Service type	Passenger excursion train
First service	1999
Current operator(s)	Vintage Trains
Route
Termini	Birmingham Snow Hill Stratford-upon-Avon
Stops	Birmingham Moor Street Tyseley
Distance travelled	50 miles
Service frequency	Selected Summer Sundays
Train number(s)	158Y-161Y
Line(s) used	North Warwickshire Leamington Stratford Chiltern
On-board services
Class(es)	First and Standard
Catering facilities	Yes

Shakespeare Express
Birmingham–Worcester Line Birmingham Snow Hill Snow Hill Tunnel Birmingham Moor Street Bordesley Viaduct Bordesley Camp Hill line Bordesley Junction Small Heath Tyseley Locomotive Works Tyseley Tyseley South Junction Spring Road Hall Green Yardley Wood Shirley Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Whitlocks End Wythall Earlswood The Lakes Spring Brook M42 Wood End Wood End Tunnel Danzey Henley-in-Arden Wootton Wawen Edstone Aqueduct Chiltern Main Line Bearley West Junction Wilmcote A46 Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Stratford-upon-Avon Honeybourne Line

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.