Media centre

Tuesday 28 Apr 2026

Rail recruitment site gets major Railway 200 revamp

Routesintorail.org improvements leave ‘lasting legacy’ for anniversary

The rail industry’s recruitment website – routesintorail.org – will attract more people into the sector after a major refurbishment that leaves a “lasting legacy” for Railway 200.

To celebrate the impact of the landmark year, Worldline dedicated a team of expert developers to overhaul the site, as a contribution to the future of the industry, while celebrating 200 years of the railway. The new ‘intelligent website’ will be faster, easier to navigate and packed full of engaging content.

With enhanced data capture, the non-profit behind routesintorail.org, the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR), can stay in long-term contact with prospective employees, guiding them toward a rail career.

The revamp follows a year of rail industry-boosting events for Railway 200, including the anniversary exhibition train Inspiration, which tours Britain until June 2026 telling the story of rail. It has been explored by 80,000 delighted visitors, including nearly 20,000 young people. Three quarters of pupils say their visit improved their understanding of rail careers.

The refurbishment of routesintorail.org was carried out with support from across the industry, including from Porterbrook, the rolling stock financier and asset management company, which funded Inspiration’s eye-catching livery and other Railway 200 projects. Porterbrook recently welcomed 140 pupils to its Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre for two days of engineering challenges and Inspiration tours.

The first phase of development, which saw the website given a new, modern look, is now complete. The second phase – improving content, usability and data capture – will be complete in the summer.

Neil Robertson, Chief Executive of NSAR Ltd, said: “We’ve been proud to support Railway 200 through our Routes into Rail initiative and have seen strong, positive responses after a year of exciting activities and of course, the travelling exhibition train Inspiration. A key legacy of Railway 200 is the new Routes into Rail website, delivered by Worldline as part of its sponsorship of Railway 200. We look forward to continue building on the momentum of the 200th year celebrations, using this new and improved site to further champion careers in rail for future generations.”

Johnny Astbury, Worldline’s CEO of Transport and Mobility & UK&I, said: “By supporting Routes into Rail, we’re helping to bridge the gap between 200 years of heritage and the digital-first expectations of tomorrow. We are thrilled to be co-designing a completely new web experience that reflects the innovation of the railways and invites a diverse new audience to explore careers in rail.”

Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said: “Railway 200 has given us a unique platform to inspire the next generation and highlight the vast opportunities to join this amazing sector. Routes into Rail plays a vital role attracting new talent to the railway. Our continued support, alongside the wider industry, is now extremely important to ensure we build on the legacy of the celebrations.”

Emma Roberts, Railway 200 Programme Manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud that Railway 200 is leaving this lasting legacy. Thanks to this investment, many more young people and career movers will be able to find fulfilling and enjoyable careers in our fantastic industry, improving their futures and our country’s fortunes. Thank you to Worldline, NSAR, Porterbrook and our many industry partners for making this possible.”