What is Michael Portillo's 200 Years of the Railways?
On 27 September 1825, Locomotion No. 1, a steam locomotive built by engineer George Stephenson, completed a 26-mile train journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in County Durham. This was Britain’s first passenger railway journey. In Britain and across the world, railways would transform travel and society, playing a vital role in the Industrial Revolution. This year has seen a programme of events, Railway 200, to mark the 200th anniversary of the railways, leading up to celebrations on 27 September 2025.
To mark the occasion, Michael Portillo is presenting a two-part BBC documentary, Michael Portillo’s 200 Years of the Railways. In the first part, ‘The Day that Changed the World’, he follows the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway to learn how it sparked the railway revolution. In the second part, ‘How the Railways Changed Britain’, he traces the route of the world’s first intercity line, between Liverpool and Manchester, which opened in 1830.
When is Michael Portillo's 200 Years of the Railways on TV?
The first episode of Michael Portillo’s 200 Years of the Railways will air at 8pm on Tuesday 16 September 2025 on BBC Two. The second episode will air at the same time on Tuesday 23 September.
Who is Michael Portillo?
Michael Portillo is a former Conservative politician and TV presenter, known for presenting Great British Railway Journeys and Great Continental Railway Journeys.
