{"id":260312,"date":"2025-08-01T18:44:46","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T08:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=180746"},"modified":"2025-08-01T18:44:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T08:44:46","slug":"worlds-largest-railway-festival-opens-at-alstoms-uk-train-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=260312","title":{"rendered":"World\u2019s largest railway festival opens at Alstom\u2019s UK train factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, will welcome almost 40,000 railfans from around the globe this weekend, as its Derby Litchurch Lane Works in the UK hosts the world\u2019s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains \u2013 The Greatest Gathering<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alstom\u2019s three-day sold-out charity extravaganza forms part of the wider festivities for Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825 \u2013 and a journey that gave birth to the modern railway.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlstom\u2019s roots in the UK go right back to 1825, when Locomotion No. 1 made its historic journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Through successive mergers the locomotive\u2019s builder \u2013 Robert Stephenson and Company \u2013 became part of Alstom in 1989 and we are beyond proud to carry that legacy of ingenuity forward,\u201d said Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe Greatest Gathering is a once-in-a-generation celebration of Britain\u2019s railway heritage and future, and it simply wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the extraordinary support of so many. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every Alstom colleague, organisation, rail operator and exhibitor who has helped bring our vision spectacularly to life. Together, we\u2019ve created the world\u2019s largest gathering of historic and modern railway vehicles, and a truly unforgettable experience for tens of thousands of visitors, alongside those watching online at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Greatest Gathering takes place on Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025 at Alstom\u2019s historic Litchurch Lane Site in Derby. Britain\u2019s biggest and oldest remaining train factory will be home to more than 140 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future of the railways, with the site itself opening to the public for the first time in almost 50 years.<\/p>\n

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Highlights across the weekend will include:<\/p>\n