Full steam ahead for banknote bid

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and the leaders of Stockton and Darlington Borough Councils are calling on the Bank of England to mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) on a future banknote.

Their joint letter of support comes as the Bank invites public submissions for new banknote themes, open until July 2025.

Opened on 27 September 1825, the S&DR was the world’s first public railway to carry both passengers and goods by steam and is credited with sparking a global transport revolution.

The bicentenary will be marked by S&DR200, a nine-month festival celebrating the railway’s legacy through major events, investment and community involvement, reinforcing its enduring national significance and the deep pride it continues to inspire as a story that resonates far beyond its North East roots.

Mayor Houchen argues the railway’s industrial and cultural legacy makes it an ideal candidate for the next series of banknotes.

He said: “It was from our corner of England that local visionaries, industrialists, engineers and communities came together and sparked what would become nothing short of a global revolution.

“Almost overnight, the world became a much smaller place. 

“Today we talk of how the internet connects the world. 

“But 200 years earlier, it was the railways that – for the first time in history – opened the prospect of travel and fast communication for everyday British people.

“And from here to the world, it was the railways that spanned the plains of America, linked Calcutta to Dheli and crossed the Australian Bush, forging the modern world.

“And that it all began here is a matter of local, regional and national pride which fully deserves celebrating by everybody in the United Kingdom.”

The mayor’s words were echoed by Lisa Evans, leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, who added: “The Stockton & Darlington Railway put our Borough on the map 200 years ago – and its legacy still shapes who we are today. 

“The S&DR was built by our communities, for the benefit of everyone. 

“Recognising that achievement in this special way would honour the determination and ingenuity of the people who made history here and remind the whole country of our region’s vital contribution to the world.”

Stephen Harker, leader of Darlington Borough Council, added: “Darlington played a crucial role in launching the world’s first public railway, and the pride we feel in that achievement is as strong today as it was in 1825. 

“As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, this is the perfect moment to recognise how our local innovation sparked a transport revolution that truly changed the world.

“Putting the Stockton & Darlington Railway on a banknote would be a fitting tribute, connecting our past to the nation’s future and celebrating a significant moment of history that belongs to us all.”

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