How to Celebrate 200 Years of Rail

By the Avanti Web Team

9 min read | 29 July 2025

2025 marks 200 years since the first passengers boarded a train. This historic milestone, The Bicentennial of Rail, will be celebrated across the UK with both national and local events. Whether you wish to join the nationwide celebrations, or enjoy a quieter, personal observance, there’s something for everyone.

Bicentennial: A mother and daughter on a train journey, gazing out the window as the mother points at the passing countryside

National Bicentennial celebrations

There are several key national celebrations in 2025 for railway enthusiasts and the general public alike.

Royal Mint Coin

Each year, the Royal Mint produces a set of five coins that celebrate British milestones happening each year. 2025 will see a commemorative £2 coin to celebrate the first passenger train journey. The coin will be available for collection later in the year.

Scouts and Guides badge

A special Railway 200 badge will be introduced for Scouts and Guides. Devised by Girlguiding North East, it will be available worldwide. This badge will help young people celebrate the Bicentennial and learn about rail history.

Fundraising

Railway 200 aims to raise £200,000 through special partnership with the following charities:

Alzheimer’s Research UK
Railway Children
Transport Benevolent Fund
Rail Benefit Fund
Railways Mission

Public participation is encouraged, and individuals can host their own fundraising events.

Bicentennial: Steam locomotive undergoing maintenance, with workers tending to the engine as steam rises around them

Local Bicentennial celebrations

No matter where in the UK you are, there’s likely a Bicentennial event happening not far from you.

S&DR200

S&DR200, a nine-month festival, will welcome visitors from across the globe. The festival’s events are free to attend and will feature large-scale outdoor spectacles, exhibitions, and art.

There will also be plenty of educational opportunities to inspire the next generation of rail enthusiasts. Many museums like Preston Park Museum and Locomotion in Shildon have partnered with the S&DR200 Festival to provide these further exhibitions and events.

A replica of the first train will run on parts of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway on the anniversary weekend.

National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum in York will celebrate both its 50th birthday and the Bicentennial in 2025.

Highlights include a new exhibition called Railway Firsts, a birthday weekend with behind-the-scenes access in September, and the return of the Flying Scotsman in April. The museum will also host the Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition and welcome the Railway 200 touring train in August.

In the summer, the museum’s Station Hall will re-open after being shut down for refurbishment. Here visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the luxurious Royal Carriages, as well as a collection of station objects and archive footage of old stations.

Bicentennial: A family of four enjoying a train ride, gazing out the window at passing scenery

London and the South East

Stoke Park Railway Gala Weekend (5th - 6th July)

This annual gala features two miniature railway tracks and various model railway-related facilities. A display about Railway 200 is also planned.

Address: London Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU
Entry: Free, no booking required but some activities may have a fee

Bluebell Railway: Rail Present and Future (24th July - 31st August)

A look at rail since 1960 with a particular focus on sustainability and the future of rail systems. It will be hosted at Horsted Keynes, the biggest preserved railway station in the country.

Address: Station Approach, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7BE
Entry: Booking a ticket is required

Green Valley Railway Gala Open Weekend (26th-27th July, 18th-19th October)

Set in a garden in South-West London, this extensive model garden railway features a tunnel, bridges, and a harbour complete with dockyard cranes.

During 2025, they will celebrate the Bicentennial with models and full-size replicas.

Address: 173 Westway, Raynes Park, London SW20 9LR
Entry: No booking required, voluntary donation to enter

Bicentennial: Vintage steam train at a station platform, with a passenger in a hooded jacket inspecting the locomotive

South West

100 Years Gala Of The Opening Of Penmere Platform Station (26th July)

To mark 100 years since its opening, Penmere Station is hosting a special one-day gala filled with vintage charm. Expect heritage vehicles, traction engines, and a classic car on display.

It’s a relaxed day for rail fans and families alike, celebrating a century of Penmere’s role in Cornwall’s railway history.

Address: Penmere Station, Penmere Hill, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2QZ
Entry: No booking required

Drive A Train Day at the Plym Valley Railway (27th July)

Under the careful watch of Plym Valley crew members, you can enjoy an introduction to driving a train and see how the role of the driver has developed over time. The day aims to show what it takes to be a train driver and inspire the next generation to go into the profession.

Address: Marsh Mills Station, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 4NW
Entry: No booking required

Midlands

The Midland Railway Study Centre celebrates Railway 200 (5-6th July, 13th-14th September)

There are two events planned, “How the Railway Came to Derby” in July and “Railway People - Your Ancestors or Not” in September. They’ll be showcasing objects and documents on theme with daily presentations. The famous Kirtley Junction model railway will also be operating thanks to its volunteers.

Address: The Midland Railway Study Centre at the Museum of Making, Derby, DE1 3AF
Entry: No booking required

After Agenoria: Aspects of the Railway Revolution in the Black Country (8th November)

Just like canals, railways were vital in shaping the Black Country. This event explores a wealth of train travel-related themes.

The Agenoria locomotive, station construction, and accidents will all be covered in talks throughout the day. They will delve into the technological and cultural history of the railways and their profound impact on Black Country.

Address: The Black Country Living Museum, Discovery Way, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4AL
Entry: Booking required at £30 per person, including parking, refreshments, and lunch.

Telford Steam Railway (Ongoing)

There are various events happening at Telford Steam Railway. The Spring Village waiting room will play host to a photo display celebrating the history of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway.

Also planned is a reunion of ex-staff, history walks, and talks about the history of the railway line.

Address: The Old Loco Shed, Bridge Road, Horsehay, Telford, Shropshire, TF4 2NF
Entry: Booking required

Bicentennial: A steam locomotive at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways station, with smoke rising against a scenic backdrop of mountains and historic buildings

Wales

5th Anniversary of the first train on the Welsh Highland Light Railway (1964) Co. Ltd. (2nd-3rd August)

Celebrate 200 years of rail on Porthmadog’s two-foot gauge railway, part of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Ride the trains, visit a hands-on interactive museum, and learn how the narrow gauge pioneered in North Wales spread around the world.

You can also get a driver’s eye view from the cabs of the “Karen” steam locomotive or the LYd2 diesel locomotive.

Address: Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9DY
Entry: No booking required

Talyllyn Railway Heritage Weekend (13th-14th September)

A weekend celebrating the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s 75 years of railway preservation. In fact, the idea of railway preservation began in Tywyn and inspired the global Heritage Railway movement.

Highlights of the weekend include gala services and slate train recreations. There will also be expert talks about railway, slate quarry and local history.

Address: Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn Wharf Railway Station, Neptune Road, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9EY
Entry: No booking required, adult tickets from £40, child tickets from £20

Bicentennial: A steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands, with smoke billowing against a backdrop of rolling green hills

Scotland

Smoke and Steel: The History of Scotland’s Railways (26th April-7th September)

A temporary exhibition showcasing how the railways have contributed to today’s Scotland. The exhibition will look at the construction, challenges, and architecture that came as a result of railways.

The rise, decline, and renewal of Scotland’s railways are also charted as part of the exhibition.

Address: Castle Wynd, Stirling, Stirling, FK8 1EJ
Entry: Booking required

Fife Heritage Railway Doors Open Day (13th-14th September)

A chance to go behind the scenes and learn just what it takes to keep the Fife Heritage Railway up and running for everyone to enjoy. Tours will include a walk through the engine and restoration buildings.

The railway’s electric multiple unit “313121” will also be open to those wanting to peek into the seating areas and driver cab. Those attending will find an onsite cafe, shop, stalls, and a free shuttle bus service linked to Kirkcaldy Railway Station.

Address: Kirkland Yard, Leven, Fife, KY8 4RB
Entry: Free entry and no booking required, although donations are welcome

Bicentennial: Mother and daughter holding hands at a train station, preparing to board a red train

Celebrate British Rail with Avanti

In 2025, rail travel will be at the heart of celebrations. Where you participate in national or local events, there are many ways to join in. Take the opportunity to introduce younger generations to the history and joy of train travel. And, don’t forget, if you’re travelling by train, a Family & Friends Railcard can help you save money while you enjoy the journey.

Whether you go to one of the Rail 200 events. By taking a train to one of these many destinations, you will be contributing to the long-standing success of our Britain railways.