An updated version of this station profile can now be found on our dedicated railway station website
Leicester is a major stop on the Midland Main Line as well as a hub for services throughout the East Midlands.
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| EMR 156 406 stands at Leicester |
| Information |
| Type: |
National Rail (Midland Main Line) |
| Station code: |
LEI |
| Opened: |
1840 |
| Platforms: |
4 |
The station was opened by the Midland Counties Railway in 1840 (though an earlier station was built elsewhere in the city in 1832). The station was later owned by the Midland Railway, under whom the station was renamed
Leicester Campbell Street.
The current main statoon building dates from a major rebuilding of the station in the 1890s when the station was renamed
Leicester London Road. It was built with an overall roof over the platforms, however this badly deteriorated after being damaged in the Second World War, the remains were finally removed in the mid-1970s [1]. The station name was changed to simply
Leicester in 1969 after the closure of the two other stations in the city in the late 1960s. Further changes to the station including the current booking hall and the platform facilities date from modernisation in the late 1970s.
The platforms are partially covered by modern canopies. There are overall footbridges at both ends of the platforms.
The station has four platforms and is a major stop on East Midland Railway services between
London St. Pancras and the North, there are also regular services to other destinations such as
Birmingham New St,
Derby and
Loughborough by EMR and Cross Country.
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| EMR 222 004 departs |
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| View down the platform, note the canopy |
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| An EMR train stands under the footbridge at the end of the open air end of the platforms |
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| View of the footbridge |
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| EMR 156 498 stands on Platform 4 |
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Coventry to Leicester (Middleton Press, 2017) Fig. 89
