Elephant & Bear Line
| Elephant & Bear Line | |
|---|---|
Class 196 at Coventry. | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Locale | Warwickshire |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 7 |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Operator(s) | West Midlands Trains |
| Rolling stock | |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | 1 (Leamington to Coventry) 2 (Coventry to Nuneaton) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Elephant & Bear Line is a rail route in the West Midlands, running from Royal Leamington Spa to Nuneaton via Coventry.[1]
Route
The route runs at an hourly frequency[1] calling at the following stations:[1]
History
The railway line opened in 1850 linking Nuneaton with Coventry with Leamington.[2] However, in January 1965 the local passenger service was removed due to the Beeching Axe.[2] The railway line re-opened in 1988 with fewer stations and a direct service between Coventry and Nuneaton.[2]
In 2016, a campaign began to reopen Kenilworth Station, located between Leamington and Coventry; the station reopened in April 2018; the station had been closed for 51 years.[3] During April 2023, it was announced that the line was going to be called the Elephant and Bear Line, referring to the symbols of Coventry and Warwickshire, and station signage on the line can be seen with the lines named on.[4][5]
Rolling Stock
Trains were formerly operated using Class 153s.[3] However, 2-car Class 196 trains are now run.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b c "Leamington Spa to Nuneaton". West Midlands Railway. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ a b c BBC. "Nuneaton to Leamington line". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ a b "Kenilworth rail station reopens after 50 years". BBC News. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ Coxon, Paul. "Can you help to find a new name for the Nuneaton – Leamington Railway Line?". Warwickshire County Council. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ "New name for the railway line to Kenilworth announced". Kenilworth Nub News. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ Trains, Realtime. "Realtime Trains | Live Departures from Kenilworth". www.realtimetrains.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ "Class 196 fleet". West Midlands Railway. Retrieved 2026-03-14.