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Monday 3 Mar 2025

Railway 200: Unique touring exhibition train comes to Waterloo this July

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Wessex

• Bicentenary train, Inspiration, will visit Waterloo 18 & 19 July as one of 60 locations across Britain over 12 months, promoting rail innovation and careers
• Inspiration will also visit Margate station (20-21 July) and Bluebell Railway (23-29 July) across Network Rail’s Southern region.
• More than 200,000 visitors expected. Register to receive updates before bookings open

A new and unique exhibition train will visit London Waterloo station, as part of a national celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the modern railway called Railway 200. 

The touring train, named Inspiration, is due to open to the public on 27 June at the Severn Valley Railway and is expected to visit 60 locations across England, Scotland and Wales over 12 months up to Summer 2026, creating a buzz of interest and excitement at mainline stations, heritage railways and rail freight sites. Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, it will be the only exhibition train on the rail network and will promote the past, present and future of the railway, helping to attract the next generation of pioneering talent.

Sporting an eye-catching livery, Inspiration will comprise four smartly reconfigured Mark 3 coaches, procured by Network Rail. The mobile Railway 200 exhibition is designed to inspire schoolchildren and others to consider a career in rail, shining a spotlight on the wide range of roles available, and to create a more diverse workforce. 

Rail’s innovation and pioneering pedigree will be explored in a ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in the development of the railway. Alongside will be a ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with a range of interactive exhibits.  This will adjoin a carriage called ‘Your Railway Future’, showcasing some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to consider a career in rail to shape the next 200 years. There will also be a ‘Partner Zone’, offering free, flexible exhibition space. The carriages, which are currently being fitted out, are supported by a £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The train will be operated by GB Railfreight.

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. Register to receive updates about Inspiration. Bookings will open shortly after Easter.

The train’s launch schedule includes a visit to 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.

The initial itinerary is:

Date(s)	Location
27 June – 6 July 2025	Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
8 - 10 July 2025	Birmingham Moor Street station
12 - 15 July 2025	London Euston station
18 - 19 July 2025	London Waterloo station
20 – 21 July 2025	Margate station, Kent
23 – 29 July 2025	Bluebell Railway, Sussex
1 – 3 August 2025	Alstom’s Litchurch Lane site, Derby (for ‘The Greatest Gathering’)
7 – 10 August 2025	Norwich station, Norfolk
11 – 14 August 2025	Lowestoft station, Suffolk
16 – 17 August 2025	Freightliner Doncaster Railport, South Yorkshire
23 – 31 August 2025	National Railway Museum, York (as part of the NRM’s 50th birthday)
10 – 17 September 2025	Darlington station, County Durham (as part of S&DR200)
20 September – 1 October 2025	Locomotion museum, Shildon, County Durham (the cradle of the railway, adjoining the original route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, as part of S&DR200)

Further details will be announced as local arrangements and the complex train planning process progress. The train will visit all English regions, Scotland and Wales.

A virtual tour of the exhibition experience is planned for those who are unable to visit.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “It really exciting to be welcoming the bicentenary train, Inspiration, to London Waterloo station this July.

“The visit of Inspiration is just one of a wide range of activities taking place across Network Rail’s Wessex route and Southern region more widely alongside our numerous train operator colleagues and partners.

“I strongly encourage people to sign up for the latest Railway200 updates and make the most of this exciting programme of events taking place across the country this year.”

Stuart Meek, South Western Railway interim managing director, said: “It’s wonderful to see the railway family coming together to mark the 200th anniversary of the railway, providing us with a brilliant opportunity to reflect on its illustrious past and very promising future.

“At South Western Railway we have activities planned across our network throughout the year, from London all the way down to the Isle of Wight. We’re especially looking forward to welcoming Inspiration to London Waterloo, celebrating the railway with enthusiasts old and new.”

Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, a cross-sector, Government-backed campaign, said: “This special exhibition train will provide a unique visitor experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren.  ‘Inspiration’ will excite, enlighten, entertain and encourage people to take a fresh view of the railway, as part of its bicentenary celebrations.

“It will also invite visitors to consider a career in rail by showcasing the extensive variety of roles available. We look forward to welcoming them onboard for an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience.”

Charlotte Kingston from the National Railway Museum said: “The National Railway Museum is a proud partner of Railway 200 and we’re thrilled that ‘Inspiration’ will be touring the country, sharing our stories with so many people. Railways have shaped our world in so many ways, from what we eat to where we go on holiday, and to inspire people with that epic narrative and give them a chance to get involved in this celebration is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Rail’s bicentenary kicked off with a Whistle-Up of more than 200 locomotives across five continents on New Year’s Day, followed by the launch of a commemorative coin from The Royal Mint, a mega rail sale of discounted train tickets, and Railway 200-related train-namings. More than 275 anniversary activities and events are listed on an interactive map, which is regularly updated.

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