News

Earlier this year, we launched our retro Network SouthEast train from Charing Cross station and it has been delighting commuters, enthusiasts and passers-by over the past few months, as it goes about its day across our network...and soon you will have the opportunity to take part in an exclusive tour on it!

To mark the opening of Blackheath station on 30 July 1849 over £1.7m has been invested in a glorious heritage makeover, which not only greatly enhances the customer experience, but harks back to the golden age of rail travel in what is the Railway 200 celebratory year.

Special train showcasing the past, present and future of our railway attracts young people to careers on the network, with the Bluebell Railway the next stop on the tour.

• Name the bear competition
• Raffle
• Vintage bus rides
• Trades stands
• ..and more!

As part of our ongoing Railway 200 celebrations across our network, three colleagues recently collaborated with the Strange Cargo Arts Company to produce three bronze sculptures, which are now permanently on display outside Folkestone West station.

• Southeastern train turned into a moving classroom to encourage more girls to consider a career in railway engineering  
  
  
• Students from Mulberry School for Girls met with female engineers and Purpose Coalition Chair and former Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening  
  
  
• Event celebrates Women in Engineering Day and the birthday of pioneering engineer Verena Holmes 

• Special exhibition to celebrate the history of the first railway to carry passengers by steam hauled trains
• Part of Southeastern's ongoing Railway 200 celebrations

Turner 250 x Railway 200: Not only is this a momentous year for our railway, 2025 also marks the 250^th birthday of a much loved and respected ‘local’ artist on our patch – JMW Turner. You may have heard of him?

On Monday 5 May, Rochester station welcomed over 13,000 customers through its gates as they travelled to the annual Sweeps Festival - but this year was different from others as Station Manager Bev Rickwood put on a very special event to celebrate Railway 200 and commemorate VE Day, which raised nearly £3,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

• Exhibition commemorating 200 years of railway opened to the public last week 

• Curator Mark Jones hosted opening event at Herne Bay’s Seaside Museum 

• Trove of vintage photos, posters and uniforms on display until 19 July  

• Erin Jessop, 12, wins design-a-bear contest with heart-themed teddy now joining station's mascot collection.
• Celebrations included arts and crafts, music, and a teddy bear’s picnic at the historic Elmers End station.
• Bear collection has raised over £2,000 for charity and supported community events, including during the pandemic.