Tuesday 11 Nov 2025
Transport for Wales and Network Rail to welcome Railway 200’s ‘Inspiration’ Exhibition train to Llandudno
- Region & Route:
- Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
Transport for Wales and Network Rail will be hosting Railway 200’s flagship exhibition train, Inspiration, at Llandudno station from 15–18 November 2025.
This unique event marks Wales’ only stop on the train’s nationwide tour celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway this year.
Railway 200 is a national bicentenary programme that honours the railway’s rich history while inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals to shape its future. The Inspiration train will have visited 60 locations across the UK by the end of the year, Transport for Wales and Network Rail are excited to bring this experience to the heart of North Wales.
Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration is the only exhibition train of its kind on the UK rail network, featuring four immersive carriages:
- Railway firsts – Showcasing landmark moments in rail innovation.
- Wonderlab on Wheels – Hands-on engineering exhibits to test visitors’ skills.
- Your railway future – Exploring hidden careers in rail and encouraging future talent.
- Partner zone – A flexible exhibition space that highlights industry collaboration.
Visitors will also discover how Transport for Wales and Network Rail work with partners across the sector, including a spotlight on Network North Wales.
Wales played a pivotal role in the origins of the modern railway. From Richard Trevithick’s early locomotive experiments to the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, the world’s first fare-paying passenger line, our industrial heritage helped spark a transport revolution.
Alex Fortune, Senior Project Manager at Transport for Wales, said: “We’ve collaborated across the rail industry and communities to deliver events celebrating rail’s past, present and future.
“Inspiration’s visit is a proud culmination of that work, and we’re thrilled to welcome it to Llandudno.”
Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, added: “This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain.
“It will excite, enlighten, entertain and inspire them to take a fresh look at the railway, as part of its anniversary celebrations.”
Free tickets to board the train are available now for visits between 15–18 November.
Booked visits begin at 10am daily, with last entry at 4pm and the train closing at 5pm.
Visits are expected to last up to one hour.
To book and learn more, visit www.railway200.co.uk/inspiration.
For details on the wider Railway 200 programme, visit www.railway200.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
- 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever. Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout the year, showcasing how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow.
- Supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Inspiration is expected to welcome over 200,000 visitors across the UK, including thousands of schoolchildren.
- Find out more: Railway 200 is here | Transport for Wales
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Emma Hutchins
Network Rail
emma.hutchins@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk