All aboard! Journey through intercity innovation

All Aboard for an Unforgettable Ride Through History and into the Future! 

We warmly invite you to embark on a compelling journey as we commence the countdown to the bicentenary of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway (1829–1830) — the world’s first inter-city passenger line and a landmark in global transport history.

Rocket: All Aboard is a public-facing event co-hosted by the University of Liverpool’s Heritage Research Institute and the Rocket: All Aboard partnership group. It brings together scholars, heritage professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to reflect on the railway’s transformative legacy and to consider the future of rail in the UK and beyond.

Through expert presentations and a panel discussion chaired by Professor Ian Wray (Heseltine Institute) , the event will explore key themes including decarbonisation, historic and digital innovation, regional equity, and workforce development. Guest speakers will include: Lord Hendy (Department for Transport) and Chia-Lin Chen (University of Liverpool) plus others.

Attendees will be invited to imagine how the pioneering spirit of the 1830s might shape transport policy in the decades to come. Blending academic rigour with public engagement, this promises to be an enlightening and enjoyable contribution to the science festival programme.

For access information and directions to this venue, and all British Science Festival venues, please click this link https://britishsciencefestival.org/british-science-festival-2025-venues