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Stockton and Darlington Railway: 200th Anniversary Festival
10 September 2025
Lead MP
Alan Strickland
Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Lab
Responding Minister
Stephanie Peacock
Tags
TaxationTransport
Word Count: 8074
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Alan Strickland raised concerns about stockton and darlington railway: 200th anniversary festival in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
No specific asks from the lead MP but rather to celebrate the rich history and legacy of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate celebrates a pivotal moment in history: the first steam-powered passenger train which marked the birth of public rail travel. The event had a profound impact on social, cultural, and industrial heritage around the world. It was crucial for innovation and invention that shaped modern railway systems.
Andy McDonald
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Congratulates on securing the debate and celebrates both transport heritage and future, emphasizing the importance of modal shift to rail for decarbonisation and economic power. Asked about an ambition to make another seismic shift in transport advancement inspired by railway heritage.
Baggy Shanker
Lab/Co-op
Derby South
Acknowledges the success of Derby's Railway 200 celebrations, emphasising the role of volunteers and the importance of looking towards future railway heritage.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commended Alan Strickland for securing the debate and emphasized the importance of celebrating individual cultural heritage, referencing his own constituency's rich history starting from 1606.
Joe Robertson
Con
Isle of Wight East
The Stockton and Darlington railway was a pivotal moment in shaping Britain's economy and social fabric. Heritage railways contribute £600 million to the UK economy annually, welcoming 13 million visitors each year.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Myer highlights the historic significance of Edward Pease's decision to fund the Stockton and Darlington railway, emphasizing its role in industrial growth. He criticizes the current state of public transport on Teesside and calls for a feasibility study to restore passenger trains along the Boulby line. Discussed the historical link of Middlesbrough's growth to rail arrival, emphasizing its importance for people and economy.
Max Wilkinson
Con
South Dorset
Wilkinson emphasizes the importance of railways in Britain's economic success, citing the Stockton and Darlington railway as a catalyst for technological advancements and modern engineering feats. He notes that Brits took over 1.7 billion railway journeys last year. Heritage railways should focus on modernising infrastructure, bringing down fares and expanding connectivity to pay tribute to George Stephenson and the legacy of the Stockton and Darlington railway.
Sharon Hodgson
Lab
Washington and Gateshead South
Celebrates the international heritage festival taking place across County Durham and Tees Valley, highlighting its contribution not just to the country but worldwide.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Celebrated Carlisle's role in railway heritage, highlighting the creation of Locomotion No.1 by Stephenson company which went on to create iconic engines like the Stephenson’s Rocket.
Rachael Maskell
Ind
York Central
Commends the hon. Member for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, highlighting the National Railway Museum's celebrations in York including new artefacts and the opening of a station hall.
Government Response
Stephanie Peacock
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Government Response
The Government are proud to support the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200 festival, which celebrates the region’s unique contribution to rail history. Funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its arm's length bodies has helped communities to celebrate their heritage, with more than £100 million invested in heritage rail projects since 1994 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The fund awarded a grant of more than £3 million to Darlington borough council for the Stockton and Darlington railway project, which created Hopetown, a new railway attraction that opened last year. Additionally, Historic England has provided over £2.3 million in investment to rejuvenate and restore the historical railway as part of its action zone established in 2018. The Government are working with Network Rail and partners across the country to deliver the Railway 200 festival, exploring how rail shaped Britain and the world.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.