How the railway changed the world: Tickets still available for free exhibition train at Skegness
• Travelling exhibition inside train is packed with interactive exhibits and amazing stories
• 70,000 have visited, calling it “brilliant” and “fascinating”. 9 in 10 would recommend visiting
• The family-friendly attraction is on 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain and is now calling at Skegness, its first and only Lincolnshire stop
• Tickets are free but availability is limited
East Midlands Railway, which is operated by Transport UK, is hosting the Railway 200 exhibition train, inspiration, at Skegness railway station this May – and with tickets completely free, visitors are being encouraged to book now before they’re gone.
The interactive exhibition train, packed with hands-on fun, fascinating stories and rare railway artefacts, will be at Skegness from Friday, 8 May to Sunday, 10 May as part of its 60-stop, year-long journey across Britain.
More than 70,000 people have already visited the train, with 9 in 10 saying they would recommend it to a friend.
Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration brings railway history to life through incredible artefacts, inspiring stories and interactive exhibits showing how railways transformed the world. Visitors can take on engineering challenges, explore the past, and discover some of the exciting – and lesser-known – careers available across the rail industry today.
This will be the exhibition’s first and only stop in Lincolnshire.
Tickets are free, but availability is limited and demand is high, so visitors are urged to secure their place as soon as possible and avoid missing out.
Previous visitors have described the experience as “unique”, “extremely interesting” and “really well curated”.
Tara Jones Ulla, who visited in Somerset, said it was “brilliant”, adding: “It was so informative without being overwhelming, with lots of interactive and hands-on exhibits. I came away so happy!”
Michael Wilson, who visited at London Paddington station, said: “The whole thing was well thought out. The interactive exhibits were brilliant and my children loved it.”
Inspiration is part of Railway 200, the national celebration marking 200 years of the modern railway, recognising the British innovation that transformed travel, boosted economies and helped shape modern life
Simon Pready, Commercial Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We are excited to host the Inspiration tour at Skegness . Bringing this unique, interactive experience to the coast is a fantastic opportunity for local families, schools and visitors to explore the remarkable story of our railways in a fun and engaging way.
"Skegness has long been a destination made famous by the railway, opening up seaside holidays to generations of people, so it’s fitting that this special train should call here as part of Railway 200. With free entry and so much to see and do on board, we’d encourage interested people to act now and get a ticket before its too late."
Book tickets here: https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/
Contact Information
East Midlands Railway Press Office
Notes to editors
About Railway 200
2025 marked the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever. Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations took place throughout 2025, showcasing how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow. The Railway 200 exhibition train Inspiration tours until June 2026.
About the National Railway Museum and Locomotion
• The National Railway Museum in York has the largest collection of railway objects in the world and is the most visited free attraction in the region. It celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025.
• Locomotion hosts the largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles in Europe, showcasing highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in Shildon - the world’s first railway town.
• The National Railway Museum in York and Locomotion in County Durham form part of the Science Museum Group.