All aboard S&DR200: Nine-month festival programme announced

Plans to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway with celebrations throughout 2025 have been announced today.

The festival programme reveals how residents and communities across Tees Valley and County Durham will be able to celebrate the landmark anniversary, 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR).

The festival will mark the region's pioneering past and look forward to its future with a series of free large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions and new art commissions in its public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums.

The S&DR200 Festival will take place across County Durham and Tees Valley from March to November 2025. The festival is inspired by the first journey on the S&DR which went on to connect places, people and communities.

The celebrations will include a re-enactment of the first journey on the S&DR, taking place on 26, 27 and 28 September 2025. A newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1, the passenger carriage Experiment and coal wagons will run on sections of the original S&DR line over three days.

Spectators will be able to see the train at designated locations and enjoy an accompanying programme of special events organised along the route over the three days. The Anniversary Celebration is sponsored by LNER and the festival team is working with Network Rail on route planning and delivery of the event.

Other exciting highlights planned for the festival includes the opening show, a large-scale visual spectacle in Bishop Auckland including a light projection and drone show on 29 March 2025, charting 200 years of rail travel and revealing the global impact the railways have had since 1825.

In September, a procession of large-scale art installations representing the world's most pivotal modern inventions and a spectacular re-imagining of Locomotion No. 1 will head to Darlington and Stockton Riverside. The two-night, 'Ghost Train' outdoor performance will take place on 21 September 2025 in Darlington and 28 September in Stockton.

Following investment in the region's visitor destinations such as Hopetown Darlington, Locomotion in Shildon, The Story in Durham and Preston Park Museum and Grounds exhibitions, installations, displays and talks will further showcase railway heritage and the stories of people connected to the railways.

The new exhibition space at Preston Park Museum will host several artworks of national significance, related to the railways and the communities they served, shown for the first time in the region.

For more details about the exciting programme visit the S&DR200 Festival website.

Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director, said: "S&DR200 is using a world-changing historical event that took place in the region as a starting point to explore the future. The festival programme will cater for all visitors including the railway enthusiasts as well as engage a younger generation, by finding new and inventive ways to tell the pioneering S&DR story. We will create magical moments using art, creativity and culture to show international audiences and young people how science, technology, engineering, arts and maths can not only change your own life but transform the world."

Alison Clark, Head of Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism at Durham County Council, representing the S&DR200 Board, said: "The opening of S&DR led to the birth of the modern railways which went on to change the world. As a board we want the S&DR200 Festival to accelerate the ongoing transformation across the region. We want to deliver a festival that will spark renewed local, regional, national and international interest in the pioneering story of the S&DR, as well as providing unforgettable experiences for all our visitors.

"We are grateful for the joint investment of our three local authorities, Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. We would also like to thank all our funding partners to date, in particular Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority and The National Lottery Heritage Fund who have recognised that this festival and the ambitions it is setting out for the future are of national and international significance."

S&DR200 is being delivered by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council. Major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, The National Heritage Lottery Fund and Network Rail.

S&DR200 is a major partner of Railway 200, a year-long campaign celebrating 200 years of rail travel.