The free, family-friendly exhibition train Inspiration, celebrating 200 years of the modern railway, is set to visit Southport next year. The touring exhibition has already attracted more than 40,000 visitors across 60 stops nationwide, earning praise from 9 in 10 attendees who said they would recommend it to a friend.

Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration explores how railways transformed the UK and the wider world. Visitors can experience historic “railway firsts,” hands-on engineering challenges, and discover lesser-known careers within the rail industry. Its next stop will be at Southport railway station, hosted by Merseyrail, from Saturday 10 January to Tuesday 13 January 2026, with free tickets available to book in advance.

Visitors have described the exhibition as “brilliant” and “fascinating.” One attendee commented, “I loved that it was interactive. I visited with people from age 18 to 85 and there was something for everyone.” Another added, “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.”

Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome the Railway 200 exhibition train to Southport in January 2026. This event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the heritage and future of rail, and it reminds us of the vital role the railway plays in connecting people and communities every day. From our own origins as a pioneering electrified network, to our position today as one of the most successful rail operators in the UK, Merseyrail continues to innovate while honouring the rich history of our national rail network. We hope that customers and visitors alike will come to Southport, step aboard, and experience this once-in-a-generation celebration.”

Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, added:

“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 Southport and we look forward to welcoming you 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 commemorates two centuries since Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1 steamed along the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The bicentenary began on New Year’s Day 2025 with a global ‘whistle-up’ involving more than 200 locomotives across five continents. Celebrations this year have also included a replica journey of Locomotion No. 1, viewed by 100,000 people, commemorative coins and stamps, the world’s largest rail festival, and a range of other events highlighting Britain’s railway heritage.

Image: Network Rail