THE SHAKESPEARE Express steam train is set to grace Droitwich and Bromsgrove this weekend when it heads to Stratford-on-Avon from Worcester as organisers look to expand the popular train.
On Sunday, June 30, the train departs from Worcester’s Shrub Hill station instead of Birmingham Snow Hill as organisers Vintage Trains continue to trial extended journey times and new station starting points in Derby, Leicester and Worcester.
The train is set to be steam hauled throughout by either 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe or 7029 Clun Castle, with a diesel locomotive providing assistance on the back.
However, the diesel locomotive could be switched to the front of the train to reduce lineside fire risk, should the current hot weather continue.
Vintage Trains’ marketing and sales manager Alex Knudsen told us: “Following the success of our Shakespeare Express from Derby, we are very much looking forward to this weekend’s departure from Worcester.
“During the golden age of steam, several castle class locomotives were allocated to Worcester Shrub Hill, so it will be a welcome sight to see one there again.
“Add on to that a run up the famed Lickey Incline and you’ve got the making of what will surely be a thoroughly enjoyable day for all.”
Bookings were still being taken for tourist class at the time of writing with anyone interested in travelling on the train advised to visit vintagetrains.co.uk or telephone 0121 708 4962 for more details.
The train is first booked through Droitwich at 10am while heading empty to Worcester. It then departs Shrub Hill station at 10.19am for Stratford-on-Avon, calling at Droitwich at 10.29am before arriving at Bromsgrove at 10.41am (platform 1). Here, it remains for ten minutes’ before departing at 10.51am.
Passengers have around four hours’ leisure time in Stratford before departing at 4.44pm. This return journey passes through Birmingham and Kidderminster before setting down at Droitwich at 6.39pm and Worcester at 6.52pm.
There is another opportunity to see the train comes when it returns empty to its Birmingham base – it is booked at Droitwich at 7.18pm with another layover at Bromsgrove from 7.28pm to 7.36pm.
