About Vintage Trains

Vintage Trains is one of the U.K.'s leading operators of main line steam train tours. Based in the Midlands, we arrange an Excursion Programme which offer a an attractive and varied choice of destinations.

As a subsidiary of the Birmingham Railway Museum Trust, ticket sales income is reinvested in running, maintaining and rebuilding historic engines, rolling stock and equipment kept at Tyseley Locomotive Works.

Fare paying passengers enjoy the sights, sounds and experiences of steam railway train travel of a bygone era operating on the main line at realistic speeds. By patronising our trains they are also effectively joining with trustees, our small staff complement and our very able and professional volunteers to keep the heritage of mainline steam alive… join us by buying tickets… today!

We offer Premier Dining Class seats on most excursions to enhance your travel experience.

The Shakespeare Express is a regular summer steam train service which we operate between Birmingham & Stratford-upon-Avon. It is an affordable way of enjoying mainline steam and it is popular for families. Summer 2010 will be the 12th season of of this popular steam train.

We use our own train of coaches on the Shakespeare Express and for other main line excursions, which feature large picture windows and traditional ventilation, so that passengers can fully savour the steam train experience.

More recently we have added a classic diesel locomotive to our fleet and also we are able to use a classic AC electric locomotive which is stabled and maintained at our Tyseley Locomotive Works. These locomotives may be used for part of the journey on certain of our steam tours enabling us to organise day excursions to places further afield. These trips would otherwise not be possible using steam haulage alone on today's modern railway system. Occasionally we may operate 'diesel only’ hauled tours and 'electric/diesel' hauled tours.

We hope you will join us on the Shakespeare Express and some (or all!) of our day excursions from our varied programme of tours using classic steam, diesel or electric locomotives to haul the trains.

Additionally, we operate complete trains (engine & coaches) for corporate bookings and private charter. We provide engines for use on other operators' trains, and we provide rakes of coaches (optionally fully stewarded) for use by other operators who may wish to make their own locomotive arrangements.

We have an active supporters group called the Vintage Trains Society. Members provide volunteer support assisting with events, restoration, stewarding on trains and fund raising. Indeed it would be impossible to operate the trains without the dedicated band of volunteers. Why not consider becoming a member for a small annual subscription so that you may play a part in a growing heritage railway organisation providing leisure activities and nostalgic days out to the public using the main line rail network. You will also enjoy a number of membership benefits too.