THE railway industry will mark the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2025 with a yearlong national programme of activities, initiatives and partnerships called Railway 200. It is described as an opportunity to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, recognise its importance today, and look forward to its future.
The S&DR was the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives, and was officially opened on September 27, 1825, when George Stephenson’s Locomotion hauled a train carrying more than 400 passengers.
The Railway 200 Programme is being led by Great British Railway’s Transition Team supported by partners including Community Rail Network, Heritage Railway Association, HS2 Ltd, National Railway Museum, National Skills Academy for Rail, Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group, Rail Freight Group, Rail Partners, Railway Industry Association and more.
Chair of Railway 200 and Network Rail, Peter Hendy said: “The world changed forever in 1825 and the 200th anniversary of this first passenger train journey is an historic opportunity to reset the public’s relationship with rail.