Preparations for the bicentenary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway have taken a step forward at a Parliamentary Reception held at the House of Commons in London.

Although the first locomotive-hauled passenger railway journey took place in 1825 between Stockton and Darlington, it was another five years before the first purpose-built passenger railway line was built. It ran between Liverpool and Manchester.

The Parliamentary Reception included a symbolic passing of the legacy of Railway 200 to Rocket: All Aboard (RAA), and was hosted by Liverpool City Region, Downtown in Business. The handover ticket carried the words “Passing the Legacy Forward – The Journey Continues”.

Railway 200 was represented at the handover by Emma Roberts, Programme Manager, Elena Metcalf, Project Manager and Rob Lowe representing Network Rail’s chair’s office. The official legacy ticket was received on behalf of Rocket: All Aboard by Karen Shannon, CEO of Manchester Histories and Development & Delivery partner for Rocket: All Aboard, and Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool.

The parliamentarians, civic leaders, railway representatives, business leaders and cultural partners who attended the reception acknowledged the success of Railway 200 and the chance to continue its work by marking the Liverpool and Manchester Bicentenary.

The two North West cities will host Rocket: All Aboard, which will be a major cultural, heritage and community programme which will connect people and places across the Liverpool–Manchester corridor. The programme will involve large-scale community participation, heritage engagement, artistic commissions, learning programmes and celebrations.

It will also mark the bicentenary of the Rainhill Trials in 1829, which tested the performance of various locomotives. The winner was Stephenson’s Rocket, which reached top speeds of up to 30 mph.

“This isn’t simply a story about railways; it’s about a moment that reshaped the world. From powering the Industrial Revolution to transforming global travel, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway changed how we live, work and connect.

“It came with challenges as well as progress, and Rocket: All Aboard will bring that full story to life. Beyond tracks and stations, we will focus on the people, places and impact that continue to shape our communities today.

“By bringing together culture, heritage, education, tourism, transport and business partners across Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, we have an opportunity to create a programme that celebrates our shared past while inspiring future generations.”

Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool and member of the Rocket: All Aboard Executive Steering Group