It’s been described as ‘fun, free and fascinating’
It will be arriving in the town centre next year(Image: LDRS)
A unique train will be pulling into a Merseyside station soon. Inspiration is described as a free, family friendly exhibition train that marks 200 years of the modern railway.
Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration reveals how railways transformed the UK – and ultimately the world. It includes a look at railway firsts, hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle-stop tour of interesting – and lesser-known – careers on the railways. More than 40,000 have already visited Inspiration on its 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain.
It has received positive reviews during this time, with nine in 10 saying they would recommend going to a friend. The next stops on its tour were announced earlier this week, and one of them is Southport.
It will appear at the town’s railway station from Saturday, January 10 to Tuesday, January 13 2026.
Inspiration has been described as “brilliant” and “fascinating”. One recent visitor said they “loved that it was interactive. I visited with people from age 18 to 85 and there was something for everyone”.
Another said: “I loved everything as soon as I got on board. The displays and history of the railways to the interactive stuff was all brilliant in my eyes, even my five-year-old daughter absolutely loved it.”
The Railway 200 Exhibition Train(Image: Railway 200/Jack Boskett)
Inspiration is part of Railway 200, the national campaign celebrating two centuries of the modern railway. Thousands of events across the UK and the world have celebrated a British innovation that revolutionised travel, supercharged economies and enabled mass tourism, sports leagues and the standardisation of time.
The year has included a replica journey of Locomotion No. 1 watched by 100,000, commemorative poems, coins and stamps and the world’s biggest rail festival.
Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Railway 200 exhibition train to Southport in January 2026.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the heritage and future of rail, and it reminds us of the vital role the railway plays in connecting people and communities every day.
“From our own origins as a pioneering electrified network, to our position today as one of the most successful rail operators in the UK, Merseyrail continues to innovate while honouring the rich history of our national rail network.
“We hope that customers and visitors alike will come to Southport, step aboard, and experience this once-in-a-generation celebration.”
Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said: “Inspiration is a fun, free and fascinating way to learn about the past, present and future of rail.
“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a rail enthusiast or simply curious about a British innovation that changed the world.
“We’re excited to bring Inspiration to Southport and we look forward to welcoming you aboard!”
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “I’m proud to be celebrating our heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway; to this day our railway network is the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth, jobs and homes.
“With this train, we’re not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today.”
You can find out more about Exhibition here.