The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world.
Railway 200 is a year-long nationwide partnership-led campaign to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and inspire a new generation of young pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. It invites community, rail and other groups to get involved.
Across 2025, thousands of activities and events took place to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, its role today, and its importance to a sustainable future.
Born in Britain, rail quickly spread across the globe. Railway 200 showcased how the railway shaped and continues to shape national life.
The spirit of invention and innovation of rail’s early pioneers lives on, as today’s railway becomes simpler and better for all, rising to new challenges in a changing world. Rail has transformed how life is lived here and abroad: crossing continents, connecting cities and communities, and improving the lives and livelihoods of billions.
Railway 200 is a cross-industry partnership. A small core team delivered some national initiatives, but most of the nationwide activity was taken forwards by partner organisations, supported by the core team.
Railway 200 helped to excite interest from the next generation by inviting young people of all backgrounds to consider a career in rail. It also helped to attract more volunteers to heritage railways.
To help tell the Railway 200 story, four main themes were explored:
- Skills & Education
- Innovation, Technology & Environment
- Heritage, Culture & Tourism
- Celebrating Railway People
As part of Railway 200, three councils, Darlington, Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Tees Valley Combined Authority, joined forces with a range of local, national, and international partners, to deliver a festival of internationally significant projects throughout the bicentenary year – S&DR200
