For more than a decade, Made in Britain has realised and embodied a mission to unite British manufacturers, to spotlight the work being done right here on this enormously proud island that punches well above its weight in multi-modal rail connectivity. From defence to environment, carpentry to clothing, Britain has so often paved the way, and it’s no different in the rail sector. From the smoke and steel of the Industrial Revolution to the cutting-edge composite materials of tomorrow, Britain still has the 12th largest manufacturing sector in the world.
We have a proud and indelible history in the railway sector, not just within our borders, but worldwide. From the pioneering steam locomotives that first connected our towns and cities to the innovative engineering that laid the groundwork for international rail networks, British manufacturing has consistently driven progress.
It was particularly special to be invited by the Rail Forum to Shildon Railway station and Locomotion, given the anniversary this year of 2025. Two centuries of innovation have changed our world, for the better, and forever. We didn’t just invent the railway. We invented the idea that travel could connect people, power economies, and categorically transform nations. In 1825, the Stockton and Darlington railway line was opened. It was the first public railway in the world to utilise steam locomotives, and Railway 200 gives us a chance to reflect on the journey this industry has taken, and continues to take, at speed.
The same spirit that built the Stockton and Darlington line still pulses through 2,200 Made in Britain member factories, workshops and through every member of Made in Britain; and we must all work to make sure that the future is just as exciting as the past.
We collaborate with trade bodies, government departments, prominent political figures and media channels to not just promote, but represent British manufacturing on a grand scale, helping members sell more of their products, secure more contracts and contribute towards the growth of the national economy. Our members play key roles in huge infrastructure across all four corners of the United Kingdom, and we feel it is important to amplify these achievements and recognise the work that goes into British manufacturing as a whole.
Made in Britain is proud to boast members who are driving progress in the rail and automotive industry. Whether it is TrainFX’s bespoke and fully integrated solutions for CCTV and passenger information, or Dewhurst UK’s development of the indicators and pushbuttons you see on modern trains. We have members working on the HS2 project, a member supplying high-performance cables for a high-speed rail project in Turkey, all incorporating British goods and British manufacturing excellence. In a connected world, resilience is our competitive edge, and British manufacturers are proving that every day, one export at a time.
Looking ahead to the future, the next chapter of rail will be written by engineers, manufacturers, and visionaries, and Britain will be at the forefront, as it so often is. We honour the past not by standing still, but by building the railways the next 200 years will need. Though power trains may have evolved since 1825, it is still full steam ahead for this crucial and transformative sector, and it is one of the many reasons why we should be proud of British innovation, British resilience and British manufacturing.
Manufacturing connects more than components. It connects communities, generations, and futures. It’s not just about bringing manufacturing home; it’s about reminding the world that Britain still builds brilliant things, in a brilliantly inventive way.
Read more about Rail Forum’s campaigning work to promote the sector.
By Made in Britain 1 hour ago | By Made in Britain