Press call - 200 years celebrated with Inspiration train at Bluebell Railway

What: Inspiration exhibition train with its STEM ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’ for youngsters, visits Bluebell Railway on UK tour to celebrate 200 years of the birth of the modern railway (Railway 200)

When: Thursday 24 July – AM (see below for details)

Location: Horsted Keynes station, Bluebell Railway, Sussex

Media opportunities:

• Trip with stakeholders in a beautifully restored ‘Pullman’ carriage travelling from East Grinstead station (connecting with Southern Railway services) down to Horsted Keynes at 09:15, arriving approximately 09:40 for a launch event
• ‘Footplate ride’ on a historic steam locomotive on the Bluebell Railway
• A chance to ‘drive’ a modern-day train using the latest digital signalling on a Govia Thameslink Railway simulator at Horsted Keynes – contrasting the old with the new
• Interviews available with senior Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway and Bluebell Railway representatives
• Opportunity to interview families visiting the Bluebell Railway and Inspiration
• B-roll available of the Inspiration train moving around the country

More details

Inspiration – the national touring exhibition train – is to visit the Bluebell Railway next week, between Wednesday 23 July and Tuesday 29 July.

The visit to Horsted Keynes station on the heritage line marks the first visit of the train to Sussex, and media are invited to see it – and see people using it.

A stakeholder event will also be taking place on the morning of Thursday 24 July, beginning with a trip on a beautifully restored ‘Pullman’ train travelling from East Grinstead station (connecting with Southern Railway services) down to Horsted Keynes at 09:15, arriving approximately 09:40.

Media are invited on board the special train from East Grinstead – with other opportunities detailed above.

About Inspiration

Four carriages obtained by Network Rail have been converted into the eye-catching exhibition train, which has been curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum and promotes rail innovation and careers. The carriages have been fitted out with supported from a £250,000 grant courtesy of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

• Rail’s pioneering pedigree is explored in a ‘railway firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in rail’s development.
• Next is the Wonderlab on Wheels, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with hands-on exhibits adapted from the National Railway Museum’s own interactive railway-themed gallery.
• The third carriage - Your Railway Future - showcases some of the less-know roles in rail and encourages people to join the railway to shape the next 200 years.
• Finally, the fourth carriage carries a Partner Zone containing an exhibition space.

Contacts

Roger Perkins, Senior Media Relations Manager (Govia Thameslink Railway) - 0203 750 2031

Paul Prentice, Communications manager (Network Rail) - 07354 529 345

Jon Beardmore, Business Development Manager (Bluebell Railway) - 07740 423439