UK's largest gathering of historic railway vehicles planned
The UK's largest gathering of historic railway vehicles will take place in the summer to mark the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger train service.
Train manufacturer Alstom announced its factory in Derby will open to the public for the first time in more than half a century to host the Greatest Gathering event between August 1 and 3.
More than 50 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future of the railways will be on display, featuring a combination of those powered by steam, diesel and electricity.
The historic locomotives include:
– LNER Class A4 Sir Nigel Gresley, built in 1937.
– Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class British India Line, built in 1945.
– Class 37 Cassiopeia, built in 1963.
Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, which will form part of the wider Railway 200 festivities.
The industry is embarking on a year-long celebration named Railway 200 to mark the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in north-east England on September 27 1825, which is credited as being the birth of the modern railway.
Alstom's Europe region president Gian Luca Erbacci said: 'The Greatest Gathering, presented by Alstom for Railway 200, is a unique opportunity to celebrate not only the incredible progress of the past two centuries but also the bright future of rail.
'This event is about bringing people together to reflect on what we've achieved collectively and to inspire the next generation to push the boundaries of what's possible in sustainable transport.'
Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday at alstom.com/greatest-gathering, with all profits split between five charities.
Meanwhile, operator Avanti West Coast announced it will make another attempt at the fastest train journey between London and Glasgow.
The record of three hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds was set by a British Rail prototype Advanced Passenger Train in December 1984, which was allowed to travel in excess of today's mainline speed limit of 125mph.
A first attempt by Avanti West Coast to break the record in June 2021 failed by 21 seconds.
The operator will make another bid in the spring, with a Pendolino train renumbered 390200 for Railway 200.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opening of new Alstom plant in Hornell puts city at center of worldwide rail industry
Hornell was at the epicenter of the global rail car industry on June 2 with the official opening of Alstom's state-of-the-art, 135,000 square foot car shell manufacturing plant on Shawmut Drive State, federal, county and city officials were on hand for a ribbon cutting for Plant 4 and the building's dedication to the late James Griffin, the pioneering long-time leader of the Hornell Industrial Development Agency. It was a day clearly set aside for celebrating. Alstom employees and managers, local and state officials and regional economic development leaders basked in the completion of Plant 4 under bright sunshine. "This is a proud day for Hornell and just the beginning of what we can accomplish when we work together," Hornell Mayor John Buckley said. Alstom Hornell Site Manager Victor Ionescu said he was "privileged" to be involved with the Plant 4 project since its inception, calling it a new milestone in the city's long connection to rail travel. 'Hornell has been a rail town for 170 years and we are very proud of that history. That history has been built with the cooperation and the partnership of everybody here today," Ionescu said. "We thank you for everything you have done to make this moment possible." Alstom spent $75 million and worked with 40 unique contractors to build and outfit the facility, one of the few advanced manufacturing facilities in the United States capable of producing stainless steel car body shells for passenger rail vehicles. Buckley said Plant 4 marks a "landmark investment" in the future of the city. He said the plant's completion helps place Hornell at the "epicenter" of the global rail car industry. "This facility represents not just steel and concrete, but opportunity, growth and a bright path forward for Alstom and the City of Hornell," Buckley said. "With the creation of an estimated 250 new jobs, Plant 4 is game changer for our community." Buckley said the high-quality new jobs "will support families, strengthen the workforce and drive new economic vitality throughout Hornell and the surrounding region." Hope Knight, president, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development, praised Alstom's growth in New York state and its support for "good paying union jobs" in the Southern Tier. In a statement, Sen. Charles Schumer said, 'Today, Alstom solidifies the Southern Tier and New York state as the beating heart for its North American operations. I've long fought to support Alstom's growth in Steuben County and will continue to fight to ensure Hornell has the resources it needs to be one of the nation's main hubs for rolling stock manufacturing.' In 2021, Schumer secured a $3.4 million federal grant from the Economic Development Administration to the Hornell IDA to make improvements to the Shawmut Park site, paving the way for the expansion. Michael Keroullé, President, Alstom Americas, said it was a 'beautiful day' for the City of Hornell. Keroullé expressed his gratitude to leaders and officials at all levels of government for what he said was their "unwavering support and commitment" to rail manufacturing expansion in the Southern Tier. More: Alstom's $75M Hornell facility now operational. Why it marks new era in rail manufacturing And Keroullé said Plant 4 'reinforces (Alstom's) strong commitment to American manufacturing" and job creation. "Good jobs are the foundation for thriving communities," he added. In January 2021, Alstom was awarded an up-to $1.8 billion contract by Metra, the commuter rail system that serves the Chicago metropolitan area Plant 4 is expected to be a key component in building rail cars for Metra, as well as other company projects. Alstom provided tours of the facility following the formal inauguration of Plant 4. Email Neal Simon at nsimon@ To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell, Alstom celebrate opening of new Shawmut Park car shell plant
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Alstom S.A: 10 July 2025 Combined Shareholders' Meeting - Availability of the preparatory documents
5 June 2025 – ALSTOM's shareholders are invited to participate in the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of 10 July 2025 (the 'Meeting') which will take place at 2:00 PM at 28, avenue George V ('Châteauform' Le 28 George V') 75008 Paris. The Meeting will be broadcasted live and in full on the Company's website ( This broadcast will also be available on the Company's website on a deferred basis within the timeframes provided for by applicable regulations. The prior notice of the Meeting, which includes the Meeting agenda, the text of the resolutions submitted to the Meeting's approval and the main details about participating in and voting at the Meeting was published on 2 June 2025 in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO) n°66. The convening notice will be published in BALO and in a newspaper for legal notices on 23 June 2025. These notices may be consulted on the Company's website: Availability preparatory materials – Document transmittal requests The preparatory materials for the Meeting referred to in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code are available on the Company's website ( The documents that are to be presented to the Meeting in accordance with, in particular, Articles L. 225-115 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code are available on the Company's website ( or upon request sent to the following email address: Shareholders are also invited to regularly consult the area dedicated to the Meeting on the Company's website ( About Alstom Alstom commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 86,000 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated sales of €18.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2025. For more information, please visit Contacts Press:Philippe MOLITOR - Tel.: +33 (0) 7 76 00 97 ANTOINE - Tel.: +33 (0) 6 11 47 28 60 relations:Cyril GUERIN – Tel: +33 (0) 6 07 89 36 Guillaume GAUVILLE – Tel : +44 (0) 75 88 02 27 Estelle MATURELL ANDINO – Tel: +33 (0) 6 71 37 47 Jalal DAHMANE – Tel : +33 (0) 6 98 19 96 Attachment 20250605_PR_AGM_Preparatory_documents_ENError while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Alstom opens $75m manufacturing plant in Hornell, New York
French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has unveiled a new Plant 4 manufacturing facility in Hornell, New York, US. Alstom has invested $75m in the new facility, which will produce stainless steel car body shells for passenger rail vehicles. Spanning 12,542sqm, the site will further enhance the firm's manufacturing capabilities to support other initiatives. The investment in Plant 4 will relocate production from Brazil to the US, reaffirming New York's Southern Tier as the epicentre for rail innovation. Furthermore, it will also boost domestic supply chains within the US rail industry. Initially, the new site will begin production on 200 multilevel commuter rail cars for Chicago's Metra system. The 2021 contract, valued at $775m, can be extended to increase the order up to 500 rail cars. The new facility will create 258 new jobs, including those in mechatronics engineering and robotics-related fields. It will also help retain 390 existing jobs in Hornell. Alstom received $3.4m in federal funding for the expansion. Additionally, it received grants, job credits and tax credit programs from agencies including the New York Empire State Development, the US Economic Development Administration, City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency, the US Department of Treasury CDFI Fund, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Electric & Gas, and the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Michael Keroulle, president of Alstom Americas, thanked New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the state, local and federal partners for their support. 'Plant 4 upholds our commitment to making trains in America, also expanding our ability to deliver rail solutions,' he added. Congressman Nick Langworthy expressed his gratitude towards Alstom for its investment boost in the region. 'The Southern Tier is the capital of rail car and train manufacturing, and this investment is a critical next step in continuing this legacy,' he added. According to a GlobalData report, Alstom was the most prolific company in making international expansions in the transport equipment industry between Q1 2019 and Q1 2024. Since 2024, Alstom has announced investments in Romania, Hungary, Turkey, China, Mexico, and Egypt. "Alstom opens $75m manufacturing plant in Hornell, New York" was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
