Steam locomotive with bunting in foreground

Man and young boy seated on train at table — Photo: Avanti West Coast

Family walking on a train platform — Photo: Watercress Line

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In 2025 Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Nationwide celebrations are in full swing.

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Latest news – how rail continues to shape national life

Uniformed Army officer unveiling a name plate on the side of a blue locomotive

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Royal Artillery honoured in rail’s bicentenary

2 June, 20253 June, 2025

This year marks 200 years of the modern-day railway and there has always been a strong relationship between the railway and the military. To mark the 80th anniversary in Haslemere, Network Rail and South Western Railway held a service and unveiled a plaque to honour the 626 people who lost their lives during the war.

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World’s first steam locomotive to run on a public railway will appear at The Greatest Gathering

22 May, 2025

Pioneering locomotive to join others from the UK National Collection at Alstom’s three-day festival for Railway 200

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HS2 donates 4,000 tonnes of ballast to Bluebell Railway as part of landmark Railway 200 celebrations

21 May, 2025

Some 4,000 tonnes of ballast – enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool - was used by HS2 in specially constructed sidings while tunnelling work was carried out at West Ruislip.

Before and after: Siemens engineers remove signals on Great Northern’s Northern City Line, London, as part of the government-funded East Coast Digital Programme to create the nation's first signals-free commuter railway.

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Great Northern route to City of London transformed into UK’s first signals-free commuter railway

19 May, 202521 May, 2025

Great Northern 'Northern City Line' to the City of London becomes the UK network's first-ever commuter railway to operate without signals at the side of the track, heralding a major milestone in the national deployment of cutting-edge digital technology.

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Six artists will create nine new artworks marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the S&DR

15 May, 202515 May, 2025

The S&DR200 festival has announced six artists who will create nine new artworks marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). The project is jointly funded by Historic England and Railway Heritage Trust, marking 200 years of the railways with new artworks at key historic locations.

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Protecting railway memories for the future

To celebrate the anniversary and create a better future, Railway 200 is partnering with five charities to raise funds and awareness for their vital work.

Hop onboard and help us steam ahead to our fundraising goal of £200,000. Choose one of our exciting walking challenges to start your journey today.

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