A touring exhibition train that has been drawing crowds across the country will arrive at London Paddington next week, bringing with it a celebration of 200 years of railway history. Known as Inspiration, the train forms part of the national Railway 200 programme and has already welcomed more than 45,000 visitors during its ongoing 60-stop tour, with the vast majority saying they would recommend it to others.

Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration explores how railways reshaped Britain and influenced the wider world. Visitors can expect to discover key historical milestones, try interactive engineering challenges and learn about a wide range of career paths within the rail industry – including those not commonly known to the public.

The exhibition will be stationed on Platform 8 at London Paddington from Monday 8 December to Saturday 13 December. Entry is free, though ticket numbers are limited, and organisers are encouraging early reservation to avoid disappointment.

Inspiration first launched at Paddington in June, and the station will now host it for a six-day return as part of the continuing Railway 200 celebrations. The initiative reflects on two centuries of rail innovation while looking ahead to future technology, skills and opportunities.

GWR Station Manager for London Paddington, Dean Haynes, said:

“We’ve worked very closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to support the Railway 200 celebrations and were proud to be the host station for the launch of Inspiration in June. We had lots of schoolchildren boarding the train that afternoon and you could tell it had really captured the imagination. We’re delighted to welcome it back to Paddington for a six-day stop.”

Network Rail’s Western route director, Marcus Jones, added:

“We’re delighted to be hosting Railway 200’s Inspiration train in the run-up to Christmas, adding to the festive magic at London Paddington and celebrating two centuries of train travel in Britain. We’ve worked closely with colleagues across the industry, including at GWR and Transport for London, to bring this anniversary to life. Our partners at the STEAM Railway Museum in Swindon and Reading Museum, Reading, have kindly shared their archives with us for this event and both museums are well worth a visit to learn even more about how train travel shaped Britain. A number of our stations marked significant birthdays in 2025, with both Reading and Bristol Temple Meads turning 185 in this 200th anniversary year. With such a rich railway history, we’re proud to celebrate Railway 200, and look forward to seeing what the future brings.”

Railway 200 Programme Manager, Emma Roberts, 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 London Paddington 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.”

Image: Great Western Railway