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200 Years of Rail
Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
LNER is thrilled to support S&DR200, a remarkable nine-month international festival set to take place across County Durham and Tees Valley throughout 2025. This festival celebrates the 200th anniversary of the first groundbreaking journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), a landmark moment in railway history that paved the way for modern rail transport.
With events and activities spanning the region, S&DR200 will highlight the rich legacy of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, inviting communities and visitors alike to honor this pivotal moment in the industrial age and its lasting impact on transportation, engineering, and cultural heritage.
LNER and National Rail Museum artwork competition - help us design the future, and win amazing prizes!
LNER and the National Rail Museum love celebrating the history of the railway. But we’re always looking to the future too.
We're pleased to announce the winners of our Railway 200 artwork competitions:
In the 11 and under category ('Design the uniform of the future') the winner is Fen Mcilwraith aged 10.
In the 12-17 year olds' category ('Design the train of the future') the winner is Joseph Strek aged 12.
Congratulations to Fen, Joseph and everyone who submitted entries into the competition. The judges had a very hard time picking the winners!
We'll be sharing Fen and Joseph's winning entries on this page, along with some of the runners' up entries too.
The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities, and ideas and ultimately transforming the world.
Since 1923, LNER has set about pushing boundaries to create ever greater feats of engineering, speed, comfort and customer service, while improving journeys between London to Scotland.
Throughout 2023, we celebrated 100 years since LNER came into existence. In 2025, we will join the wider rail industry in a year full of celebrations, where we recognise how the railway shaped and continues to shape national life.
This page will be regularly updated as LNER announces its full Railway 200 related events programme.
See the LNER 100 year timeline here.
Get involved!
LNER is set to play a big role in the Railway 200 celebrations, which mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway—the world’s first modern passenger railway.
As part of this historic event, we're participating in nationwide festivities, including various exhibitions celebrating the past, present, and future of rail travel.
These events will take place throughout 2025, showcasing the impact of the railways on society and promoting future sustainability. Keep your eyes peeled for our events showing up on this page!
Learn more about Rail 200
Watch this short film celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway in 2025 and how to get involved.
Railway 200 will explore the past, present and future of rail and its impact on national life, here in the UK and around the world.
