The National Railway Museum is gearing up for a landmark year of exhibitions, events, celebrations and a grand reopening, as it celebrates its 50th birthday in tandem with the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
Station Hall, closed to the public since 2023, will reopen at the York museum in September after the completion of a £10.5 million refurbishment project. Visitors will be able to rediscover the grandeur of the historic exhibition space in time for a special birthday weekend on 27-28 September, marking five decades since the museum opened in 1975.
The former goods station and Grade II listed building represents around a third of the museum’s exhibition space. It will reopen in September with refreshed interior decoration and stunning new collection items, alongside timeless returning favourites such as the royal carriages. The building has also received a band-new roof, fitted with energy-efficient solar panels.
Other 2025 highlights include Railway Firsts, a brand-new exhibition on display at both the National Railway Museum and sister museum Locomotion in County Durham, from 8 February.
The exhibition will spotlight the pivotal innovations and unexpected “firsts” that shaped the railways and our history, presented through a series of eye-catching pop-up displays, as visitors journey through the museum.
In addition, shortlisted entries to the Young Railway Photographer of the Year competition will be on display from June-December at both the National Railway Museum and Locomotion, showcasing the talent and enthusiasm of the next generation. The Railway 200-themed competition is open for entries to those 25 and under until 31 January, with top prizes on offer.
The museum will mark its 50th birthday year with a new campaign, NRM50, featuring photographs of cherished visits captured on camera by the public over the last five decades. A limited-edition NRM50 range of merchandise will be available to purchase later in the year.
To mark its 50th birthday, the museum will play host to a special celebratory open weekend on 27-28 September, with visitors offered the chance to access behind-the-scenes areas of the museum, previously unseen by the public.
The National Railway Museum and Locomotion are key partners in Railway 200, a nationwide campaign to celebrate 200 years since the first fare-paying passenger journey on the Stockton and Darlington Line on 27 September 1825 – widely regarded as the birth of the modern railway. The same date was chosen to open the National Railway Museum, the first national museum outside of London, in 1975.
Throughout the year, Railway 200 will bring the nation together to celebrate two centuries of railway heritage and innovation, with a rolling programme of exhibitions, events, and community activities showcasing the past, present, and future of rail.
A four-carriage touring Railway 200 exhibition train called ‘Inspiration’, curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, will criss-cross Britain for a year from this summer, promoting innovation and careers within the rail industry.
‘Inspiration’ will visit both the National Railway Museum and Locomotion during the course of the year, with the full schedule set to be announced in the coming months. A range of Railway 200 branded gifts has been created by the National Railway Museum, which are now available from the National Railway Museum and Locomotion gift shops and online store.
Craig Bentley became Interim Director of the National Railway Museum in January. He said:
“I stepped on board as director at the start of one of the most exciting years in the history of the railways.
“We have a truly exciting programme of activity ahead, and through our partnership with Railway 200, we are thrilled to be at the heart of a national celebration of the past, present and future of the railways.
“I can’t think of a better 50th birthday present than a restored and revitalised Station Hall. I know how keen our visitors are to see the results of our hard work inside the space – with plenty of surprises still to reveal as we approach the reopening.”
Image credit: National Railway Museum
