On 27 September 1825, the world’s first passenger train, hauled by George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 carried over 400 people along the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The rail industry will mark 200 years of train travel with a year-long national public engagement programme called Railway 200 (starting in January 2025).

A wide variety of activities, initiatives and partnerships are being considered to enable Railway 200 to tell the story of the past, present, and future of the railway.

Railway 200 will inspire, enable and empower organisations, communities and individuals to create and deliver their own activities, events, and projects, which together will roll into a year-long celebration.

Railway 200 hopes to leave a genuine legacy beyond 2025 by supporting and enhancing the industry’s efforts to close the skills gap.