Leicester

The current Grade II listed Leicester station dates back to 1894. It has a wide and handsome exterior, which faces onto London Road. The station was reconstructed internally in 1978, though the extensive taxi drop-off and pick-up porte cochere was retained, as was some pleasant decorative tiling in the hallway, through which pedestrians make their way to the modern inner concourse. Barriers are in operation to check tickets before access is gained down the stairs to the two island platforms. Leicester is a busy junction station and all four platform faces are well used. As you approach Leicester by train from the north, the expanding UK Rail Leasing Company depot on the left, to the east of the main line, usually holds something of interest for enthusiasts.

 

Mansfield Railway Station

Here’s a town justifiably proud of its rather elegant Victorian station. The plaque says it all, really. The East Midlands Railway 3-car Class 170 unit has stopped on its way to Worksop. One section of the station is now occupied by the Nottinghamshire Mining Museum.