HS2 and Railway 200
Celebrating 200 years of railway innovation
Two centuries ago, George Stephenson’s pioneering vision connected Stockton and Darlington, launching the world’s first public railway and transforming how we travel forever. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone through ‘Railway 200’, we’re proud to honor that legacy while building the railways of tomorrow.
The story that began in 1825 continues with HS2 – Britain’s new high-speed railway that embodies the same spirit of innovation and ambition that drove the Stephenson family. Just as George Stephenson revolutionised transport in the 19th century, HS2 is transforming rail travel for the 21st century and beyond.
Railway 200
HS2 represents an exciting new chapter in Britain's 200-year-old railway story
Britain’s new high-speed railway
HS2 represents the natural evolution of Stephenson’s vision, utilising cutting-edge technology to connect London and Birmingham with faster, more reliable services. Our zero-carbon journeys and environmentally conscious stations demonstrate how railways continue to lead the way in sustainable transport, while creating space on existing networks for enhanced local, regional and freight services.
This transformative project supports over 30,000 jobs and advances Britain’s expertise in modern rail systems, laying the groundwork for future expansion across the North and Midlands. HS2 continues the railway tradition of driving economic growth and urban regeneration that began 200 years ago.
Our Railway 200 Celebrations
Showcasing the Future at The Great Gathering
We joined railway heritage groups at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works for an extraordinary celebration bringing together historic locomotives and cutting-edge technology. Visitors experienced the future firsthand through exclusive tours of our life-size HS2 Class 895 train model, witnessing the collaboration between HS2, West Coast Partnership Development, and Hitachi-Alstom High Speed that’s creating Britain’s next generation of high-speed trains.
Honoring Robert Stephenson's Legacy
The historic bronze statue of Robert Stephenson – son of the railway pioneer and architect of the iconic Rocket locomotive – has found a fitting temporary home at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon, County Durham. After careful storage during Euston station’s redevelopment, this 150-year-old monument now inspires visitors in the world’s first railway town for the next decade.
Robert Stephenson’s extraordinary achievements, from designing the London and Birmingham Railway to engineering railways across Europe, Canada and Egypt, shaped the global railway network we know today. His statue’s presence in Shildon, where the Stockton-Darlington line passed through, creates a powerful connection between past and present.
Preserving Railway Heritage Through Partnership
Our commitment to railway heritage extends beyond celebration to practical preservation. We’ve donated 4,000 tonnes of ballast to the beloved Bluebell Railway in West Sussex, material that served us well during Northolt Tunnel West construction. This generous contribution will reopen platform 1 at historic Horsted Keynes station – the famous “Downton Abbey station” – bringing it back into service for the first time since 1914.
The donated ballast will also be used to relay an adjacent siding, which will be used as a display area for railway vehicles for the entire event throughout the summer.
Connecting past, present and future
As we celebrate Railway 200, we’re reminded that great railways aren’t just about moving people – they’re about moving society forward. From George Stephenson’s first passenger service to HS2’s environmental leadership, railways continue to connect communities, create opportunities, and inspire innovation.
The next chapter of Britain’s railway story is already being written, building on 200 years of engineering excellence and visionary thinking that began with a simple but revolutionary idea: that railways could change the world.
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