From horse-drawn to high-speed: Britain celebrates 200 years of rail travel in 2025

09.01.2025 - 04:43 / euronews.com

2025 marks 200 years since passenger rail travel began with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in September 1825.

An engineering feat first designed to transport coal in England’s industrial north has since become the backbone of sustainable travel across the world. 

Digital rail platform Trainline estimates that its UK customers saved more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 last year by opting for trains instead of petrol cars. 

"The world changed forever in 1825 with the birth of the modern railway in Britain, and rolled out across the globe,” says Rail Minister Lord Hendy. "Railway 200's celebrations are a unique opportunity to honour a ground-breaking moment in our history."

On 1 January a “whistle-up” - organised by the Heritage Railway Association - heard more than 50 heritage railways making a noise, from Scotland to South Africa. Mainline stations in the UK also sounded their engine horns, in what Network Rail called the "biggest railway heritage mass-participation event, ever".

It is one of numerous events in Britain this year to celebrate the beloved form of travel.

Rail travel is rooted in the Industrial Revolution. As early as the 1700s, horses were used to haul wagons of coal across miles and miles of wooden tracks in the North East of England.

The animals weren't likely to catch a break until 1804 when Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick proved that steam power could do the job too. His prototype carried 10 tonnes of iron (plus five wagons and 70 men) 15 kilometres in four hours. 

Steam-powered trains had their major milestone moment on 27 September 1825, when S&DR’s locomotive set off from Shildon - pulling wagons loaded with around 500 waving passengers.

The S&DR was taken over by the North Eastern Railway in 1863, which was amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) 60 years later.

To commemorate rail travel’s momentous day in 1825, a nine-month festival is taking place across County Durham and Tees Valley from March to November this year. 

There are also dozens of related events across the country, which the British public can peruse on this interactive map. 

In August, train builder Alstom will host ‘The Greatest Gathering’ at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, showcasing the largest temporary assembly of trains and rail-related exhibits in a generation.

A touring exhibition train, named ‘Inspiration’, is also due to crisscross Britain, creating a buzz at mainline stations, heritage railways and rail freight depots. It will hold various interactive exhibitions exploring the past, present and future of rail. 

“Railway 200 presents an exciting opportunity to unite the wider public in recognition of our rail network and the brilliant people