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Wednesday 3 Dec 2025

All aboard: Railway 200’s special exhibition train arrives at London Paddington next week

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

London Paddington station is getting ready for the arrival of an important visitor – a special exhibition train celebrating 200 years of the railway is due in on Platform 8 on Monday 8 December.

Named Inspiration, the train will be at Paddington station from Monday 8 until Saturday 13 December and features themed carriages that take visitors on a journey through rail history, future innovation and local stories:

• Railway Firsts: Showcasing groundbreaking innovations in railway history
• Wonderlab on Wheels: Offering engaging hands-on activities to explore the science and engineering behind railways
• Your Railway Future: Uncovering some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to consider a career in rail to shape the next 200 years

It’s part of the Railway 200 programme, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. Events have been taking place across Britain throughout the year, with Inspiration touring the country to bring the story of rail to life for the communities it serves. 

Tickets to board the train and view the exhibitions are free, though availability may be limited due to high demand. Tickets can be booked through the Railway 200 website at railway200.co.uk/inspiration/. The train will be making further stops into 2026 and new dates and destinations will be announced on the Railway 200 website.

At Paddington, visitors will also find exhibition stands on the adjacent platform and there will be railway staff on hand throughout the week to answer questions and assist guests in learning more about the history of train travel in Britain and what’s in store for the future.

The railway’s most-loved Bear may also make an appearance at his namesake station, so guests are advised to keep a close eye on any marmalade sandwiches they’ve brought along for lunch. London Paddington has a number of food and drink outlets located in The Lawn should any sandwiches need replacing, and after learning all about the station’s history at the exhibition, The Lawn also offers great views of Brunel’s iconic architecture.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting Railway 200’s Inspiration train in the run up to Christmas, adding to the festive magic at London Paddington and celebrating two centuries of train travel in Britain.

“We’ve worked closely with colleagues across the industry, including at GWR and Transport for London, to bring this anniversary to life. Our partners at the STEAM Railway Museum in Swindon and Reading Museum, Reading, have kindly shared their archives with us for this event and both museums are well worth a visit to learn even more about how train travel shaped Britain.

“Our region is home to Brunel’s iconic railway and we look forward to sharing that history with visitors from across the country. A number of our stations marked significant birthdays in 2025, with both Reading and Bristol Temple Meads turning 185 in this 200^th anniversary year. With such a rich railway history, we’re proud to celebrate Railway 200, and look forward to seeing what the future brings.”

GWR station manager for London Paddington, Dean Haynes, said: “We’ve worked very closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to support the Railway 200 celebrations and were proud to be the host station for the launch of Inspiration in June.

“We had lots of schoolchildren boarding the train that afternoon and you could tell it had really captured the imagination. We’re delighted to welcome it back to Paddington for a six-day stop.”

Railway 200 programme manager, Emma Roberts, said: “Inspiration is a fun, free and fascinating way to learn about the past, present and future of rail. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a rail enthusiast or simply curious about a British innovation that changed the world.

“We’re excited to bring Inspiration to London Paddington and we look forward to welcoming you aboard!”

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.

“With this train, 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.”