Railway 200 has launched a new website to help celebrate the 200th anniversary in 2025 of the modern railway and the legendary journey, in 1825 on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, that changed the world forever.
The site – www.railway200.co.uk – invites rail and non-rail organisations to:
register their planned Railway 200 events and activities, so these can be promoted on an interactive map due to go live on the website later this year
sign up for regular email updates – a newsletter will be launched this month
download the Railway 200 logo for non-commercial use
The website also includes an illustrative timeline of more than 50 major moments in the railway’s history, exclusively curated with expert help from the National Railway Museum.
The timeline reflects the themes of Railway 200, a national, partnership-led campaign which plans a year-long celebration of the railway – its past, present and future – showcasing how rail has shaped and continues to shape national life. Railway 200 also aims to excite and invite the next generation of pioneering talent to the railway and encourage more people to volunteer at heritage railways.
To help tell the rail story, four main themes will be explored:
Education and skills
Innovation, technology and environment
Heritage, culture and tourism
Celebrating railway people
Emma Robertson, Railway 200’s programme manager, said: “Next year’s bicentenary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people and organisations across the UK to celebrate this historic milestone and make their own history.
“Rail and community groups, heritage railways, civic leaders, museums, business bodies and many others are invited to get involved, ensuring that the anniversary year is as enjoyable and memorable as possible for as many people as possible across the UK.”
Charlotte Kingston from the National Railway Museum, part of the Science Museum Group, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Railway 200 in celebrating the past, present and future of railways. We are proud to have contributed our knowledge, expertise and digital collections to the Railway 200 website to showcase the massive contribution the railways have had on the way we live our lives.”
