Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway
In 2025, we will mark a monumental milestone – 200 years since the birth of the train travel! It all began right here in the North of England, where innovation and ambition laid the tracks for a global revolution in travel and industry. George Stephenson created Locomotion number 1 and on September 27, 1825 carried the first passengers on a train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
Railway 200, starting January 2025, is a nationwide campaign celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. It aims to inspire careers in rail through events highlighting its history, current role, and future sustainability. A partnership-led approach will support local and national initiatives, creating a lasting legacy.
Over 2025 there will be lots of activities taking place for everyone to have a chance to join in with and celebrate rail travel. Whether you’re a lifelong rail enthusiast or simply curious about this remarkable anniversary, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Visit Railway200.co.uk to find out what's happening near you.
What’s Coming in 2025 at Northern?
We’ll be marking the anniversary by celebrating the past, present and future of rail travel and the people who make the railway happen.
Watch this short film celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway in 2025 and how to get involved.
Learn more about Railway 200
Rail 200 events
There’s plenty on offer around the country when it comes to celebrating 200 years of rail. From museum exhibitions showcasing how far we’ve come to competitions giving you the chance to show off your talents in art, photography, and more. Railway 200 events are happening everywhere you look, with major celebrations taking place in familiar as well as unlikely places.
Check out York’s yearlong Railway Firsts Exhibition or grab the Rail 200 Special Train from York station that travels from Shildon to Darlington along its original route. With the National Railway Museum being in York, the city is the place to be for the big railway celebrations you’re looking for.
If you’re planning on grabbing the Rail 200 Special Train then you can also enjoy all the unique celebrations happening in Stockton & Darlington. Like the Stockton & Darlington Railway Festival, going from March till October and celebrating 200 years since the route kickstarted the railway revolution.
There’s also plenty of events happening further North, like the Heaton-150, a 2-day spectacular that puts the 150-year history of the Heaton depot on full display. A Northern run event, this one is a great weekend option for those looking to learn more about how we grew from steam locomotives to the trains we have today. Book today, and grab a place at this exclusive event.
A true industrial city, Manchester won’t disappoint in the quality or quantity of events it has on offer for Rail 200. From the Manchester Locomotive Society, combining the 200 year celebration with its 90th birthday, there are plenty of events to attend throughout the year. Get the kids involved in the celebrations as well with a trip to the East Lancashire Railway. Hosting unique events throughout the year, like Bluey Bingo, Thomas the Tank Engine, and more of your kids' favourite shows, you can entertain your little ones throughout the whole year with ease.
With events happening all across the North, you can get involved in this year’s celebrations with ease with Northern trains. Get to each Railway 200 event in comfort and enjoy everything the festivities have to offer. Check the list of events on the Rail 200 page and learn everything there is to know about supporting your local train station; your hub for travel. From Liverpool to Nottingham to Carlisle, you’ll find no shortage of events to head to. Travel with Northern and get up to 60% off your journey.
Inspiration train
Discover the past, present and future of railways on the Railway 200 exhibition train called Inspiration, touring the country from June.
Bookings are now open to visit the unique Railway 200 touring exhibition train, Inspiration, at Blackpool North station between 4-7 November - Click here for more info.
Heaton 150
In September we welcomed people to Heaton TrainCare Centre (our depot) — one of Britain’s longest-serving railway depots — as we celebrated an incredible 150 years of service. See a recap of the event by clicking on the button below.
Design a new iconic poster for Railway200!
As part of our Railway 200 celebrations, we invited artists, illustrators, and dreamers of all ages to participate in a special competition, to design a new railway poster for the north. Dozens of amateur artists submitted entries earlier this year, coming up with fresh takes on the famous British Railways posters produced between the 1920s and 1950s.
A panel appointed by Northern chose the winners, after judging the entries on their creativity, originality, visual impact and relevance to the theme.
Callum Hoy, Arlo Crossfield and James Wilkinson were chosen as the winners and their posters are now being displayed at various stations.
Callum - Winner of under 12s category
Arlo - Winner of 12-17 category
James - Winner of adults.
There's plenty on offer around the country this year for Railway 200, so get out and enjoy everything you can with Northern. We make travel simple and with up to 60% off of travel available, you can stick to your budget with us. Head around the country and celebrate 200 years of passenger rail with us.
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Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.