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Thursday 16 Apr 2026

Inspiration visits Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre

The Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre was the next stop for Inspiration, the Railway 200 exhibition train, which has been touring the country since June 2025 to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway.

On April 14 and 15, local Warwickshire students were invited to explore the train at the 135-acre Long Marston site, which is owned by Porterbrook.

The rolling stock financier and asset management company has been a key supporter of the Railway 200 celebrations over the last two years, contributing significant funding for Inspiration’s travels around the country, and the installation of its unique livery.

140 students from years 2 to 6 visited across the two days, including 80 pupils who were part of The Primary Engineer Rail Programme delivered by the not-for-profit organisation Primary Engineer, in partnership with Porterbrook. The Primary Engineer Rail Programme is a practical project which builds the confidence of teachers delivering STEM-based classroom activities and focus on engineering and raising the aspirations of pupils.

As part of their experience, through virtual reality headsets the children were able to “jump into” the cab of a train and drive around the site’s brand-new electrified test track, the only continuous rail loop in the UK.

A teacher from Snitterfield Primary School commented: “The children that we've brought out, they've been absolutely amazed by the train, by the grandeur of everything and they've really enjoyed showing what they've been able to do."

Joining the school’s tours of Inspiration, Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer at Porterbrook, said: “We’re delighted to welcome local students to the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre as part of this national celebration. This one-of-a-kind train reflects both the rich history of the railway, and the exciting innovations taking place today and for the future.

“We hope this experience sparks curiosity to learn more about what this proud industry has to offer the next generation of talent.”

Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said: “A big part of Inspiration’s tour is about reaching the next generation of railway workers, so it’s fantastic that so many local pupils got involved in this fun-filled and curiosity-provoking event. 

“We are hugely grateful for Porterbrook’s generous support of Railway 200, which has helped us take Inspiration to communities across Britain, from Southampton to the Scottish Highlands.”

Andrew Norris, Head of Partnerships North West England said, "Primary Engineer brings the rail industry to schools, inspiring children to enjoy learning with engineering as the perfect focus bringing together curiosity, creativity, inclusivity, practical skills, and academic learning. For the last four years Porterbrook have worked with us to upskill and empower teachers to embed engineering in the curriculum and connect learning to real-world contexts. The children and teachers love visiting Long Marston and getting to visit Inspiration will only add to their knowledge and understanding of the rail industry."

More than 80,000 people have explored the Railway 200 exhibition train, which uses rare artefacts and fascinating facts to explore how railways transformed the world. It includes hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle-stop tour of interesting – and lesser-known – careers on the railways.