External linkWorld’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
External linkHS2 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.
External linkGreat 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.
External linkSix 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.
External linkHitachi Newton Aycliffe factory to open its doors for Railway 200 Celebrations 12 May, 202512 May, 2025 Factory tours, Locomotion No.1 and Railway 200 Exhibition Train will form part of the event on Saturday 4th October 2025.
In rail’s bicentenary, connect to the world outside your window with the Window Seater audio storytelling app 29 April, 202529 April, 2025 The Window Seater app delivers an immersive in-train experience, with place-based stories that cover a range of subjects from history and geography to art, culture and community – including many connected to this year’s 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
Bookings open for Inspiration, Railway 200’s unique exhibition train 24 April, 202525 April, 2025 Bookings have opened for visits to a unique exhibition train, part of a national celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway called Railway 200.
External linkThe Watercress Line’s stunning ‘200 Community Textile Timeline of Train Travel’ embarks on tour across Hampshire 15 April, 202524 April, 2025 As part of the Railway 200 celebrations, The Watercress Line has collaborated with more than 100 talented individuals, including local artists, schools, and community groups to create the textile timeline which depicts the history of rail travel.
Top 20 railway artworks unveiled on World Art Day – as voting now opens for nation’s favourite 15 April, 202515 April, 2025 The 20 best-loved railway artworks in the UK were unveiled following a global vote held as part of a celebration of 200 years of the modern railway.
A new podcast for a national celebration 9 April, 20259 April, 2025 ‘Great Rail Tales’ launches as part of 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
External linkLocal group seeks memories of Westerfield station to celebrate 200 years of the railway 9 April, 20259 April, 2025 People with fond memories of Westerfield rail station, Suffolk, are being asked to share their stories for a commemorative book as part of Railway 200.
External linkRail firm to create 200 Homes for Nature to celebrate Railway 200 8 April, 2025 100 more to be added by end of year to celebrate 200th anniversary of birth of modern railway.
External linkRobert Stephenson statue goes on display at the Locomotion Museum 8 April, 20258 April, 2025 HS2 has been taking care of the historic statue since it was removed from the Euston piazza in October 2020.
External linkTransport Secretary unveils blue plaque for Great Western Railway pioneer 4 April, 2025 A blue plaque honouring Great Western Railway’s first locomotive driver has been unveiled as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the birth of the railway.
Railway Heritage Trust celebrates 40 years of transformation in rail’s 200th anniversary 2 April, 20252 April, 2025 The Railway Heritage Trust has organised a travelling exhibition which can be visited at 5 locations across Britain during April, May and June.
External linkCelebrating the past, present and future of rail – local communities invited to get involved in Railway 200 31 March, 20252 April, 2025 HS2 joins the national Railway 200 campaign and announces its plans to capture and record the public’s favourite railway stories.
Girlguiding partnership with Railway 200 29 March, 20252 April, 2025 On Saturday 29 March 1000 members of Girlguiding in the North East and Yorkshire celebrated 200 years of the modern railway at Hopetown museum in Darlington.
External linkLocomotion reveals programme for railway’s bicentenary year 27 March, 202528 March, 2025 Brand-new exhibitions, a summer-long festival with Flying Scotsman in residence, guest locomotive line ups, a visit from the Railway 200 Exhibition Train and a host of other events and activities will run throughout the year.
External linkBig train meets little train – a Railway 200 encounter 25 March, 202526 March, 2025 Southeastern and Hornby jointly unveil the new Railway 200 Class 395 ‘Javelin’ highspeed train.
External linkSoutheastern Network Weekend brings affordable adventures to all 19 March, 202520 March, 2025 To celebrate 200 years of the railway and to tie in with Kent Big Weekend in April, Southeastern are launching The Southeastern Network Weekend – offering 10,000 Advance train tickets for just £5 each.
