Severn Valley Railway will be the first stop for a unique train on a 12-month tour of Britain celebrating 200 years of the modern railway.
The Railway 200 train, named Inspiration, is planned to call at 60 destinations as part of its journey to promote the past, present and future of the railway and inspire the next generation of railway talent and workers.
More than 200,000 people, including many schoolchildren, are expected to visit the one-of-a-kind train as it makes its way around the national rail network*. It will be made up of four specially decorated carriages, each with its own theme and focus.
Inspiration will arrive at Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster station on 26 June, ahead of being opened to visitors between 27 June and 6 July 2025.
To celebrate being the first station to host the train, teams from Network Rail’s Central route and Severn Valley Railway (SVR) gathered at SVR’s Kidderminster station to welcome one of the heritage railway’s favourite steam trains – locomotive 75069 – as it pulled into the platform with a special Railway 200 headboard. The famous loco was one of nearly 200 which took part in this year’s New Year’s Day ‘whistle-up’ to officially signal the start of Railway 200.
The West Midlands will also be the second stop for the exhibition train when it calls in the centre of Birmingham between 8 and 10 July. Inspiration will be based at Birmingham Moor Street where Chiltern Railways will welcome visitors for three days, before the train resumes its journey and heads to Euston station.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “Birmingham and the West Midlands are at the heart of Britain’s railway so it is fitting that this fantastic exhibition train, celebrating 200 years of the rail industry, is making its first two stops here.
“The railway has always been, and remains, a vital part of Britain and this train celebrates the past, present and future of an invention which changed the world. I can’t wait for it to arrive and inspire thousands of visitors from the West Midlands who will be some of the first people in Britain to see it.”
Gus Dunster, managing director of Severn Valley Railway, commented: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as Inspiration’s first regional venue. During its time with us, thousands of people will get the chance to find out about the fascinating history of UK rail, and learn how they might be a part of its future. There’ll also be a special programme of school visits to Inspiration, during which children will be able to travel on a heritage train.
“Inspiration’s 10-day stay at the SVR will coincide with the SVR’s Railway 200 weekend on 5 and 6 July, with plenty of exciting attractions. There’ll be a theme of trains through the ages, and we hope to have a number of special guest vehicles spanning from the 1800s to the very latest in modern technology.”
The train, one of the highlights of a year-long celebration of two centuries of the railway in Britain, is designed to inspire schoolchildren and others to consider a career in rail by highlighting the wide range of different roles available in the industry.
The four carriages consist of a ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in the development of the railway; a ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’ coach which invites visitors to test their engineering skills with a range of interactive exhibits; a carriage called ‘Your Railway Future’ showcasing some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to consider a career in rail to shape the next 200 years; and a ‘Partner Zone’ which will change as the train tours Britain and calls at its different locations.
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, a cross-sector, Government-backed campaign, said: “This special exhibition train will provide a unique visitor experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. ‘Inspiration’ will excite, enlighten, entertain and encourage people to take a fresh view of the railway, as part of its bicentenary celebrations.
“It will also invite visitors to consider a career in rail by showcasing the extensive variety of roles available. We look forward to welcoming them onboard for an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience.”
The Inspiration train has been curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum and will be the only exhibition train on the rail network. It has been supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will be operated by GB Railfreight.
Other locations confirmed for Inspiration to call at include the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, the National Railway Museum in York, a freight depot in Doncaster and Waterloo station in London.
If you’d like more information on Railway 200 and how to get involved, including an interactive map showing over 250 planned anniversary activities and events, visit www.railway200.co.uk.
Image credit: Network Rail
