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Wednesday 1 Oct 2025

Bookings now open for unique touring exhibition train coming to Southampton in December

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Bookings have opened for visits to a unique exhibition train in December, part of a national celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the modern railway called Railway 200. 

The schedule for the train, named Inspiration, now covers 27 locations across England, Scotland and Wales to the end of the bicentenary year in June 2026, and is set to visit Southampton station between 14-16 December.

The train opened to the public on 27 June at the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire and has been criss-crossing Britain since then. It has visited 13 different locations across the country; showcasing rail’s past, present and future. Before arriving at Victoria, the train will travel to Scotland and Wales before returning to the south of England with visits to Paddington and Southampton Central. The tour for 2026 will be unveiled later this year.

Free tickets for the train’s visit to Southampton can be booked by visiting this webpage.

Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration will be the only exhibition train on the rail network and will help to attract the next generation of pioneering talent to the railway.

Inspiration will comprise four eye-catching carriages. Rail’s pioneering pedigree will be explored in a ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in rail’s development. Alongside will be a ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with hands-on exhibits. Next will be a ‘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. 

It’s been described by visitors as “brilliant” and “fascinating”. One recent attendee said they enjoyed “all of the train from the start to the finish – it was a great experience”. Another said: “I loved that it was interactive. I visited with people from age 18 to 85 and there was something for everyone”.  

Admission to the train will be free, but normal entry charges to heritage railways and private sites where it is located will apply.

The train has been in the North East of England in September - rail’s 200^th anniversary month - as part of S&DR200, a nine-month international festival inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.

No passengers will be carried on the train as it travels to its exhibition sites. Booked visits will begin at 10am and the last entry will be at 4pm. The train will close at 5pm. Visits are expected to last up to an hour. A virtual tour of the exhibition experience is planned for those who are unable to visit in person.

Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, a cross-sector, Government-backed bicentenary campaign, said: "Inspiration always creates a buzz when it comes to town and it’s fantastic that more than 30,000 people have already discovered the fascinating past, present and future of our railways.

“The team is excited to bring Inspiration to London, Somerset and Southampton and we can’t wait to have you aboard!”

Phil Dominey, South Western Railway's Senior Regional Development Manager, said: "We’re delighted to welcome the Inspiration Train back to the SWR network following its visit to Waterloo in July. Its arrival in Southampton - a city where countless journeys have begun, connecting rail and sea - is a fitting celebration in the railway's 200th year. We hope many more people will take the chance to step on board and explore the past, present and future of the railway during this milestone anniversary" 

To book and find out more about Inspiration visit www.railway200.co.uk/inspiration

For more on Railway 200 and how to get involved visit www.railway200.co.uk