Railway 200 is a year-long nationwide partnership-led campaign to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and inspire a new generation of young pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. Starting in January 2025, a wide variety of activities and events are being planned to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, its role today, and its importance to a sustainable future.
To help tell the Railway 200 story, four main themes will be explored:
- Skills & Education
- Innovation, Technology & Environment
- Heritage, Culture & Tourism
- Celebrating Railway People
Rail Forum is keen to ‘do our bit’ to support Railway 200 and we will encourage our members to get involved where they are able. We will publicise key Railway 200 events through our regular news channels and share major activities and opportunities with members.
Rail Forum Specific Activities
iRail School Lessons and School Project Materials
We have made our iRail School Lessons and School Project materials available via the Railway 200 site. Aimed at 13- to 14-year-olds, these resources provide all secondary schools with the materials needed to deliver up to six rail-themed lessons and/or a major project spanning six further lessons. Each lesson also includes a series of short videos featuring young people showcasing different careers in the industry. While teachers can deliver the lessons independently, we encourage rail companies to support their delivery as part of their social value activities.
Work Experience Placement Booklet
We will make available a Work Experience Placement booklet specifically designed for Year 10 and Year 12 students interested in rolling stock engineering. This booklet is intended for organisations offering placements, providing a consistent framework to help plan the student’s experience.
Local Engagement in Derby
We will collaborate with local partners near our Derby HQ, including Derby College, the University of Derby, and GBRTT, to support regional initiatives throughout 2025.
Rail Forum’s STEM Partnership for 2025
Rail Forum has welcomed the National Railway Museum as our STEM Partner for 2025. This partnership will see both organisations working together to inspire the next generation of railway talent.
Call for Innovation Case Studies
Rail Forum members are invited to contribute case studies for showcasing on the Railway 200 Innovation webpage.
Submission Details:
Send your innovation case study to jemma@railforum.uk in Word format (maximum 400 words), accompanied by:
- A high-resolution photo or image
- Your company logo
- In your email, include a 100-word summary of the case study. This summary will be featured on the Railway 200 website, with a link to the full case study, which will be added to our website.
* Coming Soon! *
We are putting together some graphics for Rail Forum members to utilise and showcase their support for Railway 200 – these will be made available later this month!
We are also exploring further support for Railway 200 and will update members as this evolves.
Rail Forum Member - Getting Involved?
If you are planning your own activities, or celebration events, please tell us so we can share with others as appropriate.
Please email jemma@railforum.uk