The
Railway
200


Exhibition
train
‘Inspiration’
is
welcoming
the
first
members
of
the
public
at
Bridgnorth
station
in
Shropshire
today.

The
train
was
at
London
Paddington
for
a
formal
launch
yesterday,
where
rail
minister
Lord
Hendy
marked
the
start
of
a
national
tour
which
will
take
the
train
to
60
places
in
Britain
as
part
of
the
Railway
200
national
festival
celebrating
200
years
since
the
Stockton
&
Darlington
Railway
hauled
the
first
trainload
of
passengers
behind
a
steam
locomotive
in
September
1825.

Lord
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
and
what
it
can
do
in
future,
alongside
bringing
services
back
into
public
ownership,
laying
the
foundations
for
Great
British
Railways,
and
building
a
railway
we
can
all
be
proud
of.’

‘Inspiration’
has
four
coaches
which
commemorate
the
railway’s
achievements
past
and
present
and
also
invite
visitors
to
consider
a
career
in
the
modern
industry.

So
far


27
visits
have
been
announced
from
now
until
Christmas.
Some
of
them
are
to
heritage
railways
and
museums,
while
others
are
at
stations,
including
several
of
the
London
termini.

The
train’s
visit
to
the
Severn
Valley
Railway
will
last
until
6
July,
and
it
will
then
move
on
to
Birmingham
Moor
Street,
where
it
will
open
on
8
July
for
three
days.

Entry
to
the
train
is
free,
but
visits
need
to
be


booked
in
advance.

Do
you
have
a
comment
on
this
story?
Please
click here  to
send
an
email
to
Platform
at
Railnews.

Moderated
comments
will
be
published
on
this
site,
and
may
also
be
used
in
the
next
print
edition.