'Brilliant' interactive Railway 200 exhibition train announces Merseyside dates - how to book free tickets
A “brilliant” family-friendly exhibition train celebrating 200 years of the modern railway is coming to Merseyside.
Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, the Inspiration train reveals how railways transformed the UK.
More than 40,000 have already visited Inspiration on its 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain – and it has received rave reviews, with 9 in 10 saying they would recommend it to a friend and visitors describing the experience as “brilliant” and “fascinating”.
The next stops on its tour have been announced today - including Southport. The special train will hosted by Merseyrail at Southport railway station from Saturday, January 10 2026 until Tuesday, January 13 2026.
Inspiration is part of Railway 200, the national campaign celebrating two centuries of the modern railway.
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.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
“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.
- Get the biggest stories from Merseyside in your inbox with Liverpool World’s free newsletter emails.
“We hope that customers and visitors alike will come to Southport, step aboard, and experience this once-in-a-generation celebration.”