RAILWAY 200’s Inspiration free exhibition train returns to Severn Valley Railway next month, writes Chinaza Eke.
From May 23 to 31, the SVR’s Kidderminster Town station is hosting an event to mark the last stop of Inspiration’s year-long tour.
Inspiration is part of Railway 200 – the national celebration marking two centuries of modern railway.
More than 70,000 visitors have explored Inspiration’s 60-stop tour since it began in June 2025 with nine out of ten people saying they would recommend the display to friends.
Inspiration offers a unique exhibition, bringing rare artefacts, stories and fascinating facts to show how railways changed the world.
Picture by Jack Boskett for the Severn Valley Railway. s
Visitors can learn how railways shaped towns and cities, transformed travel and trade and changed time itself.
The exhibition includes engineering challenges to tackle, interactive displays and an introduction to some lesser known career opportunities in railways, to spark interest in newer generations.
Visitors have described it as ‘unique’, ‘extremely interesting’ and ‘really well curated’, full of family-friendly fun, captivating audiences from across the UK.
Gus Dunster, Severn Valley Railway’s managing director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to secure a rare second visit from Inspiration as it approaches the end of its remarkable journey around the UK.
“Its visit this May coincides perfectly with half-term, offering a fantastic opportunity for families and young people to come to the SVR and experience this inspiring and thought-provoking exhibition train for themselves.”
Local schools will be invited to take part for free.
Visitors must book a timed slot in advance on svr.co.uk
