Two hundred years of railway history celebrated at London’s oldest station

The railway in Kent, East Sussex and South East London has kicked off a year of celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the railway with an event at Deptford – the oldest railway station in London.

Marking the beginning of a project to create a mural at Greenwich station that tells a story of the history of the railway between London Bridge, Deptford and Greenwich, Southeastern Managing Director Steve White and Network Rail Kent Route Director David Davidson welcomed local councillors as well as members of the Deptford Society and the Greenwich Society at a community event at Deptford station on Friday morning.

A workshop hosted by community art expert Patricio Forrester from Artmongers and the London School of Muralism gave customers and staff the opportunity to get creative and show us their ideas on paper for a mural to be unveiled nearby at Greenwich station later in the year.

Guests and regular passengers also spoke with staff from Southeastern and Network Rail as well as people from the local community, charities and businesses in Deptford.

David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent Route Director said: “Network Rail and Southeastern are the proud inheritors and custodians of London’s first railway. Together we are playing a leading role in marking Railway 200, through a range of special events, promotions and opportunities for customers, stakeholders and our colleagues to get involved and share their stories.

“This event marks the 189th anniversary of the start of London’s oldest railway, the London & Greenwich Railway, and the birthday of Deptford station itself, as London’s oldest railway station.

“The mural project that we’re embarking upon is a fitting tribute to the story of our railway between London Bridge, Deptford and Greenwich and the railways’ role in shaping London.”

Steve White, Southeastern’s Managing Director said: “In 2025 we are using Railway 200 to celebrate the rich heritage of our railway and to showcase the transformational effect that railways can have on communities through economic growth, decarbonisation and social mobility.

“We are a purpose driven organisation and, during this special year of celebration, we want to work with local communities and showcase opportunities that inspire young people to be a part of rail’s bright future and to help write the next chapter in our history.

“Significant Railway 200 events taking place this year include recognition for the Network SouthEast era, the visit of a special Exhibition Train, the commemoration of our railway’s contribution to war and marking the centenary of the electrification of the railway from London to Orpington”.

Christian Wolmar, the railway writer and historian, said: “This railway is one of London's great landmarks hidden in plain sight. It represents a remarkable achievement, the construction of London's first railway built on 878 arches over a four-mile stretch which has proved to be a vital part of the capital's infrastructure.

“The fact that today it is one of the most intensively used parts of the UK's railway 189 years later shows the amazing ambitions and achievements of our Victorian forebears. Yet, that achievement is largely unnoticed and ignored by residents and visitors alike.”

Members of the local community in Greenwich, Deptford and the surrounding area are invited to take part in the process to create the mural: contact artmongers.studio@gmail.com or follow @artmongers on social media channels.