Community-created mural celebrating 200 years of rail travel unveiled in Worcester

Community-created mural celebrating 200 years of rail travel unveiled in Worcester 

A new mural celebrating 200 years of rail travel has been unveiled at Worcester Foregate Street bridge, created in collaboration with the local community.  

Commissioned as part of the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, the artwork was created by visual artist Sarah Brown in collaboration with Worcester residents and students. The project brought together participants from Platform Housing, a social housing organisation working locally, and Art and Design students from Heart of Worcestershire College. 

Through a series of workshops, participants shared their memories of train journeys, explored the history and future of rail travel, and reflected on what makes Worcester a special place to visit. Their ideas, stories and perspectives have come together in the final mural that now forms a striking piece of public artwork in the heart of the city, creating a welcoming and creative gateway to the Arches for residents and visitors alike. 

Jen Loffman, Community Producer at Severn Arts, said: “This project has enabled us to work with different communities in meaningful ways and learn about their memories, interests and ideas. It’s fantastic that a beautiful piece of public artwork now stands as a lasting reminder of the project and of the time we spent with Sarah and participants consulting and co-designing the work together.” 

The mural not only celebrates the history of rail travel but also highlights trains as an efficient and environmentally friendly way to explore the UK, encouraging more people to consider sustainable travel options. 

An interactive e-book, developed as part of the project, can be downloaded from the Severn Arts website. It features activities and talking points to help viewers explore the artwork and the stories behind it. 

The project was delivered by Severn Arts, in partnership with Worcester City Council with funding from Great Western Railway as part of the national Railway 200 celebrations.

Visitors are encouraged to view the mural at Worcester Foregate Street bridge and explore the accompanying e-book via the Severn Arts website.