Train named after Lioness ahead of Euro 2025

Jess Carter has played more than 40 times for England

West Midlands Railway has unveiled a new train named after a Lioness as England prepares for the Euro 2025 tournament.

It bears the name Jess Carter in honour of the Warwick-born footballer who has played more than 40 times for England.

Teachers and pupils from her former secondary school were among the guests at a special ceremony in her honour at Leamington Spa railway station on Tuesday.

Rachel Cole, teacher at Myton School, said: "Jess was a talented all-round athlete and it has been inspiring to see how her career has progressed since leaving school."

She added: "From winning titles to representing her country in the World Cup final, everyone at Myton is incredibly proud of what she has achieved and we'll be supporting her and the Lionesses all the way this summer.

"Jess was always a polite, responsible, keen sports person; always putting her hand up to fill in any sort of position on the football pitch," Ms Cole added.

The newly-named "Jess Carter" train

The England defender began her senior career at Birmingham City, signing aged 16, with Carter a member of the triumphant Lioness squad which lifted the Euro 2022 trophy.

"We are delighted to play our part in naming a train in Jess's honour and we hope it can help inspire the next generation of Jess Carters to achieve their sporting potential," Ms Cole said.

The train is part of the Class 196 fleet which came into service in 2022 on routes to and from Shrewsbury.

The trains now serve Hereford, Worcester, Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington Spa.