Nuneaton

 Nuneaton station was built for the London North Western Railway and opened in 1847. As the rail network developed, so the station buildings were replaced and the current frontage including the clock tower dates from 1915. It was known as Nuneaton Trent Valley until 1969. Though a little plain, it is a marked improvement on Tamworth. The Birmingham to Leicester services, including a substantial amount of freight, have used the flyover to the north of the station since 2004 and a more recent chord to the west of the flyover has enabled traffic from Felixtowe to join the WCML going north since 2012, without impeding other traffic on the main line. 

I settle down on my platform end bench for lunch, while the formerly Virgin and now [since 2019] Avanti West Coast Pendolinos sail through regularly and at speed, interspersed with Class 66s on container freights, including No. 66050, which had stopped at platform two for a crew change, the cross-country passenger services and the electric multiple units that augment the longer distance expresses on the West Coast Main Line.

The modern station benches are not in a house style. They are lightly varnished wooden slats on a sturdy green metal base and noticeably splinter free. I have to settle for one without a back support, as all the others are taken by small groups of enthusiasts, as always, deep in conversation about their common purpose. West Midlands Trains, who run the station, have made a bit of an effort with the provision of some recently added flower displays, including one in which new shoots are rising from an old travel trunk with an open lid. The sides are adorned with some random travel stickers. Though it shows positive intent, it may take a bit of developing to qualify for the Chelsea Flower Show any time soon. LNR on the side of the trolley presumably stands for local nature reserve.