Send in any stories or images regarding connections between rail and maritime heritage at info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. A British innovation that’s continued its journey across the globe. Through a year-long series of activities and events, Railway 200 will explore how rail shaped Britain and the world. And, as today’s railway modernises and gears up for growth, Railway 200 will also look to the future, encouraging more people to take the train and inviting the next generation of pioneering talent to join the railway and become the history-makers of tomorrow.
To help tell the Railway 200 story, four main themes will be explored:
- Skills & Education
- Innovation, Technology & Environment
- Heritage, Culture & Tourism
- Celebrating Railway People
This will be part of a national campaign highlighting rail’s remarkable past, its essential role today, and its ever-growing importance to a sustainable future. Everyone can get involved and you can find out more at railway200.co.uk
Celebrating links between Rail and Maritime Heritage
Throughout its history, the railway has been intrinsically linked to Britain’s maritime and inland waterways sector. Trains and vessels worked together in an interlinked fashion to transport goods and people, with their synergy evident to this day in modern container ports. Rail companies often had a waterborne arm to extend their reach from a tourism perspective and, trains were used to transport vessels from their build site to their service location.
National Historic Ships UK has joined Railway 200 as a partner to celebrate the strong links between Rail and Maritime. We will be researching historical and current connections between the two mobile sectors, and we welcome input from vessel owners and interested parties on stories connecting rail, sea, coastal areas and inland waterways.
If you have any stories or images to share regarding a specific vessel’s connection to rail, or wider amphibious networks where trains and vessels cooperated, do let us know at info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk and send any information you have. This also applies to current connections, such as skills exchanges or related projects, including days out or discounted tickets for rail passengers.
