Our competitions

Draw inspiration from the style and spirit of classic British railway posters, which are bold, evocative, and full of character.

Celebrate Northern rail travel by featuring iconic landscapes, bustling city stations, friendly conductors, or the liberation of a scenic train ride.

Ensure that the design is visually striking and suitable for public display at stations across the Northern network.

Technical Guidelines

• Your design should be portrait orientation
• The space for your design is 540mm x 786mm but you can use A3 size: 297mm x 420mm
• Your design will be added to a framed template to fit on a double royal poster, which will feature a Northern Logo, Railway 200 logo, your name.
• Submit as a high-resolution digital file (PDF, JPEG, or PNG — minimum 300dpi)
• Hand-drawn or digital artwork is welcome
• Keep any text to a minimum, strong visuals are key
• If your design includes recognisable locations or rolling stock, ensure it’s accurate to Northern’s brand and geography

Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:

• Vintage: Channel the iconic posters of the 1920s–1950s, known for their dramatic landscapes, bold typography, and painterly style
• Northern landmarks: Think York Minster, the Ribblehead Viaduct, Blackpool Tower, or the bridges of Newcastle
• Scenic journeys: Capture the beauty of travelling through the Pennines, along the Cumbrian Coast, or across the Yorkshire Dales
• People and community: Reflect the role of rail in everyday life from commuters and day-trippers to train crew and station staff

We are looking for:

• Creativity and originality
• Connection to the Railway 200 theme
• Visual impact and poster appeal
• Relevance to Northern and rail travel in the North

By entering the Northern Railway 200 Poster Design Competition (“the Competition”), participants agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions:

1. Eligibility

The Competition is open to UK residents only.
Entries are welcomed in the following categories:
Junior: Ages 11 and under
Youth: Ages 12–17
Adult: Ages 18+

2. Entry requirements

All artwork must be original and created by the entrant.
Entries must be submitted by 25 August to [email protected]
Entries should be submitted as high-resolution digital files (PDF, JPEG, or PNG, minimum 300dpi).
Northern Trains reserves the right to reject entries that are incomplete, offensive, or do not comply with these Terms.
AI generated images will not be accepted. 

3. Judging and winners

A panel of judges appointed by Northern will select the winners.
Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, visual impact, and relevance to the theme.
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Winners will be notified via email by the first week of September

4. Prizes
Winning entries will be displayed at selected Northern stations.
Additional prizes may include exclusive Northern merchandise.
Prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be offered.

5. Copyright and usage
Entrants retain copyright of their original artwork.
By entering, participants grant Northern Trains Limited a royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, display, and publish the submitted artwork in connection with the Competition and Railway 200 celebrations, including on social media, websites, marketing materials, and station displays.
Credit will be given to artists wherever their work is used.

6. Data protection
Personal data submitted with entries will only be used for the purposes of administering the Competition and will be processed in accordance with Northern’s privacy policy, available at

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/legal/privacy-policy
Entrants under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian, who must provide contact information on their behalf.

7. General
Northern Trains reserves the right to amend these Terms or cancel the Competition at any time.
By submitting an entry, participants confirm they have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions.