The Royal Mint in South Wales celebrates the railway’s 200th anniversary with a special £2 coin, part of a year-long initiative.
Pontyclun: The Royal Mint has just launched a £2 coin to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. This coin is a nod to the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which opened back in 1825.
This launch is part of a bigger celebration called Railway 200. It’s all about highlighting how railways have shaped our lives over the years.
The coin is one of five that The Royal Mint will release, all celebrating important milestones in 2025. Emma Robertson, who manages the Railway 200 program, shared that there’s a lot of exciting stuff coming up this year.
She mentioned that this is a great chance for everyone involved in the railway to celebrate its achievements and future plans for sustainability.
The celebrations kicked off with a global Whistle-Up on January 1, where 200 trains across the UK and even in places like South America and South Africa blew their whistles. How cool is that?
There are over 100 events planned for the year, including train naming ceremonies, public talks, and heritage trails. Plus, there’s going to be a mega rail sale with discounted tickets!
They’re also launching a range of Railway 200 merchandise and hosting a big international festival in Durham and Tees Valley.
And get this—a special exhibition train called ‘Inspiration’ will be traveling around Britain for a year, promoting rail innovation and careers.
People are encouraged to share their own rail stories too, focusing on memorable moments that have made an impact in their lives.
Lastly, the Railway 200 initiative aims to raise £200,000 for charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK and Railway Children. It’s all about giving back while celebrating this amazing milestone!
