All aboard! Exhibition train heads to Crewe marking 200 years of rail heritage

A free, family-friendly exhibition train celebrating 200 years of the modern railway is heading to Crewe.

More than 40,000 have already visited Inspiration on its 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain – and it has received rave reviews, with 9 in 10 saying they would recommend it to a friend.

Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration reveals how railways transformed the UK – and ultimately the world. It includes a fascinating look at railway firsts, hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle-stop tour of interesting – and lesser-known – careers on the railways.

Excitingly it will be hosted by Avanti West Coast at Crewe railway station from Thursday 15 January 2026 until Monday 19 January 2026. Tickets are free but availability is limited. Book here.

Inspiration has been described as “brilliant” and “fascinating”. One recent visitor said they “loved that it was interactive. I visited with people from age 18 to 85 and there was something for everyone”.

Another said: “I loved everything as soon as I got on board. The displays and history of the railways to the interactive stuff was all brilliant in my eyes, even my five-year-old daughter absolutely loved it.”

Inspiration is part of Railway 200, the national campaign celebrating two centuries of the modern railway. Thousands of events across the UK and the world have celebrated a British innovation that revolutionised travel, supercharged economies and enabled mass tourism, sports leagues and the standardisation of time.

Taryn Banks, Avanti West Coast Station Manager at Crewe, said: “The railway has been central to the communities, towns, and cities it serves – helping to shape Britain over the past two centuries. We’re proud to be marking this milestone by celebrating the last 200 years and looking ahead to the future.

“Welcoming this special train to Crewe will be an exciting event, which we hope will inspire a passion for rail amongst the next generation so it continues to thrive for years to come.”

Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said: “Inspiration is a fun, free and fascinating way to learn about the past, present and future of rail. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a rail enthusiast or simply curious about a British innovation that changed the world.

“We’re excited to bring Inspiration to Crewe, a town with a rich railway history, and we look forward to welcoming people aboard!”

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “I’m proud to be celebrating our heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway; to this day our railway network is the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth, jobs and homes.

“With this train, we’re not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today.”

Railway 200 celebrates two centuries since Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1 steamed along the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The bicentenary kicked off on New Year’s Day 2025 with a ‘whistle-up’ of more than 200 locomotives across five continents. The year has included a replica journey of Locomotion No. 1 watched by 100,000, commemorative poems, coins and stamps, the world’s biggest rail festival, and much more.

Inspiration was supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Porterbrook funded its eye-catching livery.

Pics: Railway 200