Murals unveiled at Leamington Spa Station celebrating 200th anniversary of rail
New murals depicting rail through the ages have been unveiled at Leamington Spa Station, one week ahead of the modern railway’s 200th anniversary.
Unveiled near platforms 3 and 4 at the station, the murals capture the historic bicentenary, which began with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on September 27, 1825.
The artworks - funded by Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund - were created by local artist Katie O’Sullivan in collaboration with pupils from Earlsdon Primary School and Westgate Primary School. The project was led by the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership.
They depict historic figures relevant to the modern railway and the history of rail in Leamington. The launch took place today (Tuesday 16 September) and was attended by Chiltern Railways, the local artist, community partners, the district councillor for Arts, Culture & Economy and pupils from the schools.
The pupils were also given Railway 200 cupcakes to celebrate the upcoming milestone.
Daniel Gillard, Area Manager (Warwickshire) at Chiltern Railways, said:
“Railway 200 is a unique opportunity to celebrate the proud history of rail. I am delighted that customers at Leamington Spa can view these wonderful murals which perfectly capture this historic milestone for Britain’s railways.
“Our community work with partners and schools is crucial for the upkeep and enhancement of our stations which improve the travel experience for our customers.”
Sarah Davison, CRP Officer at the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership, said:
“It’s been fantastic to bring schools and communities together to explore the history of rail and create lasting artwork at Leamington Spa.
“The pupils’ enthusiasm and imagination shine through in Katie’s designs, and the mural will be a vibrant reminder of Railway 200 for years to come.”
Katie O’Sullivan, the artist of the murals, said:
“The children’s ideas and creativity inspired these beautiful murals. It’s been wonderful to translate their vision into large-scale artworks that celebrate Leamington’s railway both past and present.
“I hope Chiltern’s customers will enjoy spotting the stories woven into the design as they travel.”
Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund supports local projects that create lasting positive change along the Chiltern Railways network. The scheme funds initiatives that enhance station environments, promote sustainable travel and strengthen community connections.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.