HS2 and Railway 200
The rail industry is uniting under the banner of ‘Railway 200’ to recognise the remarkable achievements of George Stephenson, pioneer of the first public railway linking Stockton and Darlington in 1825.
2025 will be filled with celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway and HS2 will play a pivotal role in showcasing what the future holds.
HS2 represents an exciting new chapter in Britain's 200-year-old railway story.
It will utilise the latest in rail technology and engineering to connect London and Birmingham with more reliable, faster and frequent services while supporting growing passenger demand by creating space on the existing network for more local, regional and freight services. This ensures that passengers travelling on our historic railways today will also enjoy better journeys in the future.
The new dedicated high-speed network will transform the passenger experience, with zero carbon journeys and environmentally friendly stations all part of the UK’s rail future.
Design, engineering and construction is supporting 30,000 jobs and advancing the UK’s knowledge and expertise in modern day rail systems and operations.
Laying the foundations for the expansion of new rail networks across the North and the Midlands, HS2 continues to act as a catalyst for economic growth and urban regeneration.