Beyond the Tracks: Innovation and transformation

York has a proud history as a rail hub and ambitious plans for the future. Join us as we celebrate 200 years of the modern railway with a series of events presented in partnership with LNER. Discover the transformational power of rail – past, present and future – and its impact locally, regionally and nationally.

These Festival Focus events are presented in collaboration with LNER.

Saturday 7 June

Transforming York: Rail’s legacy 11am to 12.30pm

Join our expert speakers as they look back over 200 remarkable years of rail history and assess its transformative impact on the city of York and the wider region.

York: A 21st-century rail hub 1.30pm to 3pm

Discover how the major changes taking place in the heart of our city centre, driven by York’s Masterplan and the ambitious York Central regeneration scheme, will drive economic, social and cultural growth.

Rail: A gateway to the future 3.30pm to 5pm

As we celebrate 200 years of the modern railway, our expert speakers reveal how the spirit of invention and innovation of rail’s early pioneers lives on, driving a new future.