The Railway 200 exhibition train opened to the public on 27 June at the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire as part of national celebrations to mark 200 years of the modern railway.
The free-to-enter train, called Inspiration, will visit 60 locations across Britain over the next year to promote railway innovation and careers, celebrating a British invention that changed the world.
More than 160 people – including Rail Minister Lord Hendy, Chair of VisitEngland Lady Victoria Borwick, and students from Paddington Academy – joined a rail industry event at London Paddington station on Thursday to signal the start of the train’s 12-month tour of Britain.
Inspiration is the only exhibition train on the UK rail network and is part of Railway 200, the cross-sector campaign to mark this year’s rail bicentenary.
Looking back, looking forward
The exhibition train was designed and created in partnership with Network Rail and the National Railway Museum in York, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and rolling stock provider Porterbrook.
Sporting an eye-catching livery and emblazoned with the words “Past, Present, Future and Together”, the train will visit mainline stations, heritage railways, museums, private and freight sites. More than 200,000 people, including many schoolchildren, are expected to visit by prior booking. Admission to the train will be free, but normal entry charges to heritage railways and private sites where it is located will apply.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “I’m proud to be celebrating our heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway; to this day our railway network is the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth, jobs, and homes.
“… we’re not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today and what it can do in future, alongside bringing services back into public ownership, laying the foundations for Great British Railways, and building a railway we can all be proud of”.
VisitEngland Chair, Lady Victoria Borwick explained, “… this exhibition will be travelling the length and breadth of Britain bringing a new, exciting, and interactive attraction steeped in history and culture to local communities, inspiring future generations with hands-on learning experiences, and providing a brilliant day out for all the family”.
A train called Inspiration
Inspiration comprises four distinctive carriages, powered by a locomotive.
Rail’s history is explored in a Railway Firsts coach, highlighting landmark moments in rail’s development. Alongside is Wonderlab on Wheels, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with hands-on exhibits.
Next is the Your Railway Future carriage, showcasing some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to join the railway to shape the next 200 years. The final coach is a Partner Zone, offering free, flexible exhibition space.
A virtual tour of the exhibition experience is available for those who are unable to visit in person.
According to Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Rail Delivery Group, “The railway has always been about connecting people and places. With Inspiration, we’re also connecting the next generation to the possibilities of a career in rail”.
The Railway 200 campaign
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout the year, demonstrating how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow.
There have already been more than a thousand Railway 200 activities and events across the UK this year, many of which have been registered on an interactive map on the Railway 200 website.
Highlights so far include: 200 locomotives blowing horns and whistles across five continents on New Year’s Day; a commemorative rail coin from the Royal Mint; train namings, painting competitions, talks, and presentations; heritage and community rail events; a global poll to choose the nation’s best-loved UK railway artwork; the launch of the Great Rail Tales podcast; and a flashmob of college students.
Planned events include:
- The NRM’s 50th birthday celebrations
- The Greatest Gathering in Derby, hosted by Alstom
- The continuing Railway 200 @ Bluebell Railway festival
Railway 200 was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award by VisitEngland earlier this month, a first for an ongoing campaign.
Inspiration will be at Severn Valley from 27 June until 6 July, after which it will continue its national tour. To book and find out more about Inspiration, including onward destinations and dates, visit Welcome to Inspiration – Railway 200
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