Alstom Prepares to Welcome 40,000 for The Greatest Gathering

Alstom is set to welcome roughly 40,000 rail enthusiasts from across the globe this weekend once doors open for The Greatest Gathering – the world’s largest gathering of both historic and modern trains to date.

Hosted at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works site, the three-day, sold-out charity event forms part of a series of events celebrating Railway 200, a year-long event honouring the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825, and, in turn, the birth of the modern railway itself.

Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said:

Alstom’s 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’s builder – Robert Stephenson and Company – became part of Alstom in 1989 and we are beyond proud to carry that legacy of ingenuity forward.

The Greatest Gathering is a once-in-a-generation celebration of Britain’s railway heritage and future, and it simply wouldn’t 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’ve created the world’s 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.

Taking place across Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025, the factory will open its doors to the public for the first time in nearly 50 years, offering an in-depth look at its history, as well as the history of the railway as a whole, through more than 140 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future.

Highlights include the presence of a number of world-renowned steam locomotives, such as the 200-year-old Locomotion No. 1, the UK’s oldest operating standard gauge engine Furness Railway No. 20, the 1000 Class No. 1000 and The Flying Scotsman.

Also present will be a selection of high-speed trains including Alstom’s own Class 390 Pendolino Progress, which will appear alongside the Eurostar power car 3999 and Class 43 High Speed Trains (HSTs).

Visitors will be given the opportunity to ride steam, diesel and electric-hauled trains along Litchurch Lane’s 1.4 km-long test track, with Prince, the world’s oldest operating narrow-gauge locomotive, offering passengers rides across the site.

The event will also feature talks and performances from both famous faces and industry figureheads, as well as a premiere of the feature-length documentary, An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine, on Saturday 2 August, with a Q&A with the filmmakers following the showing.

Designed to educate and inform; the site’s STEM Hub will offer interactive experiences to showcase the power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the future of rail.

Also in attendance is the Railway 200 exhibition train, Inspiration, which aims to showcase the impact of rail over the last two centuries inside a series of redesigned Mark 3 carriages – all of which were originally produced at Derby Litchurch Lane Works.

Lord Peter Hendy, UK Rail Minister, said:

In this year of Railway 200 celebrations many imaginative and innovative events are being staged to mark this key anniversary in the history of railways. The Greatest Gathering does so on a huge scale, and promises to enter the history books as the largest exhibition of railway equipment ever staged in the UK. The whole rail industry has come together to back the vision of the organising team to create something truly special, which is wonderful to see as we move forward into the new future with the creation of Great British Railways.

I very much hope the thousands of you who were fortunate enough to secure tickets enjoy the display, which aims to really highlight the railway of the past, present and future, and hopefully inspires some of the diverse younger generations to become the railway professionals of the future.

All profits from The Greatest Gathering are set to be split between Railway 200’s five chosen charities, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, as well as a number of railway heritage partners.

Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the UK, said:

I would like to warmly congratulate the team at Alstom as they celebrate 200 years of railway history in Derby, and look forward to a bright future of designing and building the next generation of trains, and supporting the decarbonisation of transport for decades to come. Alstom Derby’s key contribution to delivering major transport projects across the UK shows how bilateral investment can be a driver for growth, innovation and improved connections between people.

In this regard, Alstom’s manufacturing presence in the UK echoes the British and French Governments’ shared commitment to supporting rail travel, both domestically and through the Channel Tunnel. Following the UK-France Summit on 10 July, our two countries committed to deepening their cooperation to foster the growth of Cross-Channel rail traffic, including by working to reduce barriers for potential new market entrants.