Come along to our Rail Electrification: Investment, Maintenance, Renewals, Research Seminar on 10 September 2026 – hear from industry leaders as they explore major projects, evolving electrification strategies, and the innovations shaping the future of sustainable rail across the North West → Find out more.

Supporting Railway 200

  Railway 200 and Knowledge 200

This year, the railway industry is joining together to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway through the Railway 200 campaign, and  we are getting involved!

The Railway 200 campaign focuses on four main themes: Skills and Education; Innovation, Technology and Environment; Celebrating Railway People; and Heritage, Culture and Tourism. These themes sit at the heart of our Institution, underpinning our aims and objectives, and our drive to educate, empower and connect people in the railway industry. We are joining the Railway 200 celebration and working alongside the Railway 200 team to ensure that the Institution’s activities are seamlessly integrated into the overall campaign.

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What is Railway 200?

The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world. Railway 200 will be a year-long nationwide partnership-led campaign to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and inspire a new generation of young pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. It invites the railway community and other groups to get involved. Starting in January 2025, a wide variety of activities and events are being planned to celebrate rail’s remarkable past, its role today, and its importance to a sustainable future.

What does Railway 200 have planned for 2025?

Coming down the track to destinations across the UK are:

  • the Railway 200 exhibition train and associated activity
  • community and heritage events
  • commemorative items
  • merchandise
  • an interactive map listing Railway 200 activities and events
  • a host of other activities, promotions, tourist trails – and lots more!
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Introducing Knowledge 200

To support Railway 200 RailEI has developed its Knowledge 200 campaign, with a particular focus on innovation, technology, and education. This campaign is spotlighting four key railway engineering disciplines throughout 2025-6: Electrification & Plant, Earthworks & Water Management, Digital & AI, and Track. Each week, Knowledge 200 features articles, presentations, and insights showcasing both cutting-edge developments and established practices across the four disciplines, reinforcing the importance of sharing knowledge to enhance competence and empower the railway engineering industry.

These resources are freely available to everyone across the industry, and we encourage you to share them far and wide! They will then become part of the RailEI Knowledge Hub, alongside over 1,000 other technical resources.

Digital & AI technologies are transforming railway engineering by enabling smarter decision-making, predictive maintenance, and innovative design. Key areas include machine learning, mathematical modelling, generative AI, digital tools, and cybersecurity. These advancements drive efficiency, safety, and sustainability while securing the railway’s digital systems.

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Earthworks & Water Management shape the landscapes railways traverse, ensuring stable foundations and effective water flow. This discipline addresses challenges like building on soft soils, managing stormwater, and preventing erosion and landslides. By incorporating climate resilience and nature-based solutions, it supports sustainable railway.

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Electrification & Plant focuses on the electrical systems that distribute power to railways, enabling sustainable, efficient, and reliable operations. Key components include overhead lines, traction power, and distribution systems, as well as slab track, earthing, and bonding. This discipline is integral to supporting renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring long-term railway resilience.

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Track engineering is central to railway engineering, involving the design, construction, and maintenance of track systems. Key areas include switches and crossings, rails and fastening systems, sleepers and ballast, and slab track solutions. By ensuring stability and safety, track engineering supports the smooth operation of modern rail networks.

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How can you support Knowledge 200?

  • Record a video talking about the day in the life of an engineer within your discipline. These are a great way to inspire the next generation of railway engineers!
  • Write a blog post about your career within the railway sector, with a particular focus on how you have progressed within your technical discipline. A helpful insight for newly qualified engineers to explore the directions that their career can take them.
  • Share the campaign content that the RailEI shares with your colleagues and wider family and friends. There are lots of opportunities for others to benefit from both Railway 200 and Knowledge 200 events and resources.
  • Present at a Lunch & Learn, Section meeting or write a Journal article that shares insights into a project you’ve been working on and increases the wider memberships’ technical knowledge within an area of your technical discipline.
  • Attend, host, or volunteer to support events promoted as part of the Railway 200 and Knowledge 200 campaigns.
  • Use the Knowledge 200 resources as motivation to update your CPD and PDP records and undertake Professional Registration this year! This will help to increase the number of professionally registered engineers across all technical disciplines within the railway industry.

If you wish to discuss how you can support the Knowledge 200 campaign or wish to submit resources, please email secretary@railei.org .