Free Railway 200 exhibition train heading to Skegness

A special free exhibition train celebrating 200 years of the railway is coming to Skegness next month – and families are being urged to book now before tickets run out.

The Railway 200 “Inspiration” exhibition train, hosted by East Midlands Railway, will arrive at Skegness railway station from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10 as part of a 60-stop national tour.

The Inspiration Exhibition Train at the Severn Valley Railway

placeholder image — The Inspiration Exhibition Train at the Severn Valley Railway

Packed with interactive displays, hands-on exhibits and fascinating railway artefacts, the family-friendly attraction has already welcomed more than 70,000 visitors around the country.

The travelling exhibition has been co-curated with the National Railway Museum and explores how railways changed the world through interactive exhibits, rare artefacts and stories from Britain’s railway history.

The Railway 200 Exhibition Train was launched at London Paddington Station to celebrate the bicentennary of the modern railway. This special train tells a story of the past, present and future and is called Inspiration. The train will travel around the UK throughout 2025 and will visit mainline and heritage railway stations.

Visitors can tackle engineering challenges, learn about the history of the railways and discover the many careers available in the rail industry today.

Organisers say nine out of ten visitors would recommend the experience, with previous guests calling it “brilliant”, “fascinating” and “extremely interesting”.

Skegness is the first and only Lincolnshire stop on the exhibition’s year-long national journey.

Simon Pready, Commercial Director at East Midlands Railway, said the visit was especially fitting for the seaside town.

He said: “Bringing this unique, interactive experience to the coast is a fantastic opportunity for local families, schools and visitors to explore the remarkable story of our railways in a fun and engaging way.

“Skegness has long been a destination made famous by the railway, opening up seaside holidays to generations of people, so it’s fitting that this special train should call here as part of Railway 200.”

Tickets are completely free, but numbers are limited and demand is expected to be high.

Anyone wanting to visit is encouraged to book in advance through the Railway 200 website at https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/

Will you be climbing aboard the exhibition train when it arrives in Skegness? Let us know.