26 January 2026 •
Local rail operator c2c Railway, supported by Madam Mayor of Havering, have today officially welcomed and opened the Inspiration train at Upminster station.
Earlier today, c2c, the Madam Mayor of Havering and Network Rail officially welcomed the industry’s iconic Inspiration train to Upminster station at a special launch ceremony.
Inspiration is an exhibition train created to celebrate ‘Railway 200,’ the bicentenary of the modern railway era which began in September 1825 when George Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1 carried passengers between Shildon and Stockton-on-Tees.
Inspiration provides a unique opportunity to educate and engage with younger generations on the history of the railways, and the important role it has and continues to play in shaping and supporting society and the communities we live in.
Speaking at the launch event, c2c’s Operations & Safety Director, Stuart Browning, said:
“c2c is extremely honoured and privileged to be hosting Inspiration here at Upminster this week.
“We look forward to sharing the many historical and fascinating stories of our railway, from the early days with LTS rail, right through until c2c, with the hundreds of schools and thousands of public visitors who have booked to visit us.”
Inspiration, which has already visited a number of major towns and cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Margate, Norwich, York, Darlington and key London stations, will remain on platform 1a at Upminster during the week 26 – 30 January.
Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said:
“Inspiration has arrived in Upminster, and we can’t wait to welcome the local community aboard.
“This is the 32nd stop on Inspiration’s 60-stop tour of Britain, and it’s already shaping up to be a highlight, so thank you to c2c Railway for hosting us.
“If you love amazing stories, hands-on exhibits and fascinating facts, make sure to get to Upminster station this week!”
Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Anglia Railway, added:
“I would like to thank the teams at the National Railway Museum, Railway 200, Network Rail and c2c who have made the Inspiration tour and its visit to Upminster possible – it’s a fantastic way to celebrate and showcase our amazing industry.
“There are lots of fun and interesting things to see and do across the four themed zones on Inspiration, including a look at ‘Railway Firsts,’ scientific and engineering breakthroughs, the future of our industry, and information on the wide range of careers and employment opportunities available.
“Finally, I would like to pay special thanks to Madam Mayor of Havering for kindly giving up her time to help with the official launch proceedings.”
To find out more about Inspiration and to book tickets visit the Railway 200 website.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Inspiration is co-curated by the National Railway Museum and Railway 200, the national campaign celebrating 200 years of the modern railway.
- Inspiration reveals how railways shaped the world, and includes a fascinating look at railway firsts, hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle stop tour of some of the interesting careers available on the railways
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
Images
- Featured Image: Madam Mayor of Havering, Stuart Browning, c2c’s Operations & Safety Director, and Jamie Burles, Managing Director Anglia Railways cut the ribbon
- Second Image: Madam Mayor of Havering takes a tour of Inspiration
- Third Image: Jamie Burles, Managing Director Anglia Railway; Madam Mayor of Havering; Mayoress of Havering; Stu Browning, c2c’s Operations & Safety Director