Hundreds of young people from across the North West enjoyed a unique learning experience as the Rail 200 Inspiration Train visited the region.

Dave coordinated school visits while the train stopped at Ribble Steam Railway, Southport, Crewe, and the East Lancashire Railway in January, ensuring each group had a smooth and engaging experience. In total, 37 schools attended, with around 800 students aged 7–18, including several SEND groups.

Many groups benefited from free travel, thanks to support from Merseyrail, Northern, Avanti West Coast, and Transport for Wales, making the visits accessible to a wide range of schools.

Each school had exclusive one-hour access to the train. On arrival, members of the Train Ed team met each group to deliver a briefing and support their visit, before students explored the Past carriage with a railway history quiz, the Wonderlab carriage for hands-on engineering challenges, and the Careers carriage to learn about rail jobs. Visits concluded in the Partner Zone with dress-up, photo opportunities, and freebies, including Arlo books and information about rail careers.

Teachers praised the visits for their high engagement and inclusivity, with the Rail 200 Inspiration Train bringing railway history to life and inspiring future careers in rail.

Community Rail Lancashire is proud to have supported this successful programme across the North West, including visits to Blackpool in November 2025.