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Throughout 2025, activities and events are being planned to celebrate important railway history, the role of the railway today and how rail can contribute to a sustainable future.

In 2022/23, the UK railway carried 1.4 billion passengers on 9,864 milesof route between 2,578 stations. Over 15.7 billion tonnes of freight have also been transported by the UK railway. This meant that 6.4 million lorries didn't have to transport freight across congested roads.

There are also 211 heritage railways, covering 600 miles across beautiful scenery and served by 460 stations. They provide days out for 13 million people a year, with 22,000 volunteers and 4,000 staff.

Railway 200

As part of Railway 200, three councils, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Tees Valley Combined Authority and Durham, together with local, national and international partners, will deliver a nine-month festival of events and projects from 29 March 2025. 

Railpen, your pension administrator, will also be celebrating Railway 200 to honour the past, present and future of rail.

As part of Railway 200, four themes will be explored:

• Skills and Education
• Innovation, Technology and Environment
• Heritage, Culture and Tourism
• Celebrating Railway People

S&DR200

The original 26-mile journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), between Stockton and Darlington, on 27 September 1825, is an integral part of rail history.

S&DR200 is a festival that celebrates the birth of modern railway, from March to November 2025.

The nine-month festival is taking place across the Tees Valley and County Durham specifically, and will include street theatre and performances, exhibitions and art commissions.

On 28 September, a newly renovated replica of Locomotion No.1 (the first train on the S&DR) will travel on sections of the original S&DR line as part of the three-day anniversary celebration which starts in Shildon, before heading to Darlington and ending in Stockton-on-Tees.

To see the full programme of events, visit sdr200.co.uk.

S&DR200 is being delivered by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council. Major funders include partner organisation Network Rail, Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and The National Heritage Lottery Fund.

Find events and activities near you

To celebrate Railway 200, discover what's happening in your area by using this interactive map.

Your Great Rail Tale

As part of Railway 200, the Great Rail Tales podcast is launching later this year to celebrate the people of the railways. The project is collecting filmed or audio rail stories from people across the UK to share on their website and social media channels. Here are the kind of stories Railway 200 is looking for:

• Has the railway shaped your career and taken you places you didn't expect?
• Have you discovered new friends, passions or interests thanks to the railway?
• Did you meet a significant person in your life on a train journey?

If you would like to share your story, go to the Railway 200 website. There you can either fill in the form, or record your own story and send it to Railway 200.

Each podcast story can be from two to 15 minutes long.

Part of an inter-generational railway family?

As part of the Railway 200 celebrations, the project wants to hear from rail staff, including retirees, that have railway ancestry going back to 1825, or even earlier.

Please email railway200@gbrtt.co.uk with your contact details and a member of the team will be in touch. 

For more information, please visit the Railway 200 website.