New murals depicting rail through the ages have been unveiled at Leamington Spa Station.

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 27 September 1825.

The project was led by the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership (CRP), with funding from Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund. Local artist Katie O’Sullivan worked in collaboration with pupils from Earlsdon Primary School and Westgate Primary School on their designs depicting historic figures relevant to the modern railway and the history of rail in Leamington.

The launch took place on 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 – who were given Railway 200 cupcakes to celebrate their achievements and the upcoming milestone. 

Sarah Davison, Heart of England CRP officer, 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.”

Artist Katie O’Sullivan 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.”

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.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Heart of England CRP via their website.