Railway 200 exhibition train opens in Birmingham with unique “West Midlands” carriage

The Railway 200 exhibition train opened its doors at Birmingham Moor Street today (Tuesday 08 July) and the public were treated to four unique and interactive carriages commemorating the landmark anniversary of rail.

In its second stop across the country and its only visit to Birmingham, the celebratory train, named “Inspiration”, is expected to host over 1000 visitors this week including local schools and families.

One of the carriages is a collaborative space celebrating the key role rail continues to have in the West Midlands – a region at the heart of the nation’s railway.

The train aims to inspire the next generation of railway colleagues, telling the story of the history of the railway and promoting careers in science, technology and engineering.

Free bookings are still available for tomorrow (09 July) and Thursday (10 July).

Tony Baxter, Operations Director at Chiltern Railways, said:

"We are proud to have welcomed Inspiration to Birmingham Moor Street this morning on its second stop of the national tour.

“The unique train perfectly celebrates the 200-year anniversary of the railway and the history and future of rail in the West Midlands.

“Comprising four special carriages, we are also delighted to showcase the fantastic career opportunities offered within Chiltern and across the rail industry, including our newly created engineering apprenticeship schemes.”

Mal Drury-Rose, Executive Director of the West Midlands Rail Executive, said:

"We are delighted to be part of the event at Moor Street to celebrate 200 years of Rail.

“It is great to be able to look back at the history of rail and also to look ahead to the many exciting rail projects that are taking place across the West Midlands."

Andrew Clark, Rail Programme Lead at Midlands Connect, said:

“We are thrilled to be part of this celebration of all things rail.

“It is especially significant for Midlands Connect to exhibit about our flagship project, Midlands Rail Hub, which has recently secured funding from Government to continue development. It will make train travel a first choice for many more people, boosting connections to 50 stations across the Midlands.

“The railways of the future will see faster more frequent services, boosting opportunities and strengthening our economy.”

Jack Pickering, from Network Rail's Central route, said:

"It's fantastic to have Inspiration at Birmingham Moor Street after a successful visit to the Severn Valley Railway. The West Midlands is the heart of Britain's railway so to have this special train make its first two stops here is great news for the region."

The train’s four specially designed carriages are:

• Railway Firsts: Showcasing groundbreaking moments that have shaped railway history. 

• Wonderlab on Wheels: An interactive coach designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers. 

• Your Railway Future: Highlighting the diverse career opportunities within the rail industry. 

• West Midlands Partner Zone: A collaborative space telling the story of rail development in the West Midlands and future plans to expand rail connectivity. Designed through a partnership with Chiltern Railways, Network Rail, West Midlands Rail Executive, Heart of England Community Rail Partnership and Midlands Connect.

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4pm. While advance bookings have now closed, a limited number of walk-up slots are available each day on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure entry. 

For more information about the 'Inspiration' exhibition train and the Railway 200 programme, visit here.

For more information on Chiltern’s Apprenticeships and to apply, visit here.