Selby Station brightened by student artwork for Railway 200
TransPennine Express has unveiled six new artwork panels at Selby Station as part of the national Railway 200 celebrations, marking 200 years since Britain’s first passenger railway. The pieces, produced by BTEC Art & Design students from Selby College, were officially revealed on Friday 5 December and now add a bold splash of colour to the front of the station.
Each artwork combines aspects of Selby’s rail heritage with imaginative ideas for the future, turning the station into a public gallery for travellers and the wider community. Students were able to see their concepts professionally printed and displayed at full scale, offering a unique opportunity to have their work celebrated in a busy public space.
Local MP Keir Mather joined TPE Managing Director Chris Jackson, students, lecturers and station staff for the launch event, with many passengers stopping to view the display and speak with the young artists behind it. The project was funded through the Railway 200 community budget with installation support from the Selby station team and Mite.
The initiative forms part of TPE’s wider community engagement work, aiming to champion local creativity and foster future talent while celebrating the history of the railways.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director for TPE, said:
“The students’ creativity has completely transformed the station. We’re proud to showcase local talent as part of Railway 200 — celebrating our railway history while giving young people a real platform to shine. Projects like this show how powerful community partnerships can be, and we’re committed to continuing this work right across our network.”
Keir Mather, MP for Selby and Kippax, said:
“It’s been fantastic to join students and staff from Selby College, along with the team at TransPennine Express, to celebrate the new artwork for our station. These panels capture both the pride we have in Selby’s rail heritage and the optimism we share for its future. Initiatives like this are a great way to strengthen the bond between our community and the railway that serves it, making every journey that starts or ends at Selby that bit brighter.”
Image: TransPennine Express