Page 74 • The HERALD • 29th January 2026 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v 023 8084 9370 Prospect Place, Hythe SO45 6AU • MOT’s • MOT Repairs • Air Con • Auto Electrics • Servicing • Welding • Diagnostics • Suspension • Tyres • Clutches • Cam Belts • Brakes Holbury Service Station MOT’S & SERVICING and Repairs to Cars and Vans TYRES FITTED WHILE YOU WAIT Budget and Branded Tyres held in stock Member of Good Garage Scheme Long Lane, Holbury SO45 2NZ Tel: 023 8089 3727 Web: www.holburyservicestation.com Email: holburyservicestation@hotmail.co.uk All Major Cards Accepted Thousands Turn Out For Three Days of Railway 200 Celebrations At Southampton Central Over 2,000 visitors ocked to Southampton Central in December to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Britain’s railway. South Western Railway (SWR) were honoured to host the Railway 200 Inspiration train between Sunday 14th and Tuesday 16th December when it visited the agship station, itself a hotbed of railway history. Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration is an exhibition train that aims to attract the next generation of pioneering talent to the railway. An incredible 2,263 visitors attended Southampton Central across the three days, making it one of the most visited stops of the train’s nationwide tour. e train of four eye-catching coaches contain several di erent attractions, starting with the ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, which explores the railway’s pioneering pedigree and highlights landmark moments in the railway’s development. e second coach, ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’, challenges visitors to test their engineering skills with hands-on exhibits. School children and younger visitors were inspired by the third carriage, ‘Your Railway Future’, which showcases hidden roles in rail and encourages future generations to join the railway, helping to shape the next 200 years. e fourth coach, the ‘Partner Zone’, included a SWR Virtual Reality experience on the Sunday and Monday, with an exhibition from the University of Portsmouth and Brickworks displayed on the Tuesday. To celebrate the train’s arrival, two new murals were unveiled at the station, followed by a special performance by the Steam Town Shanty Crew, singing traditional songs of the sea. e railway in Southampton has a unique link to the sea. Southampton Central was opened as ‘Southampton West’ in 1895 by the London & South Western Railway, which later became part of the Southern Railway, who owned and operated Southampton Docks. e former Southampton Terminus station in Southampton City Centre also served the Port of Southampton between 1840 and 1966. Visitors described the exhibition train as “brilliant”, Western Railway’s Senior Regional Development Manager, said: “It was such a joy to welcome the Inspiration Train back to the SWR network following its visit to London Waterloo in July. The visit to Southampton was very special, as it is a city where countless journeys have begun, connecting rail and sea. The event was a fitting celebration in the railway’s 200th year. So many people took the opportunity to step on board to explore the past, present and future of the railway. We would like to thank everyone who helped make this such a successful event including the volunteers and stakeholders, including GO! Southampton and Winchester Railway Modellers.” Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said: “From the striking mural and the sea shanties to the more than 2,000 happy visitors who flocked to Southampton station, it’s been a stop to remember on Inspiration’s tour. Inspiration continues travelling Britain until June 2026. If you missed out this time, it’s visiting Swanage, Salisbury and The Watercress Line near Winchester in February.” e train rst opened to the public on Friday 27th June at the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire and has since visited several locations all around Britain. For more information visit: www.railway200.co.uk/inspiration “fascinating” and “a great experience”. Phil Dominey, South School children enjoying an interactive activity on one of the Inspiration train carriages
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