TPE partners with Selby College to mark 200 years of rail with inspiring station art
TransPennine Express (TPE) revealed six vibrant artwork panels at Selby Station as part of its nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, marking two centuries since the arrival of Britain’s first passenger railway.
The artwork was revealed on Friday 5 December and was created by BTEC Art & Design students from Selby College.
The large-format pieces blend the town’s rich rail heritage with imaginative visions of the future, bringing fresh colour and creativity to the station.
Local MP Keir Mather joined TPE’s Managing Director Chris Jackson, students, college staff and members of the station team for the launch, with many passengers pausing to admire the display and speak with the young artists.
For the students, the project offered a rare opportunity to see their work professionally produced and showcased in a busy public setting — turning the station into an open gallery for the community.
The colourful panels, funded through the Railway 200 community budget and installed with support from the Selby station team and Mite, now brighten the front of the station for passengers and the local community to enjoy.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director for TPE, said: “The students’ creativity has completely transformed the station. We’re proud to showcase local talent as part of Railway 200 — celebrating our railway history while giving young people a real platform to shine.
“Projects like this show how powerful community partnerships can be, and we’re committed to continuing this work right across our network.”
The initiative reflects the train operator’s wider commitment to supporting local communities, strengthening engagement across its network and helping to nurture future talent.
Keir Mather, MP for Selby and Kippax, said: “It’s been fantastic to join students and staff from Selby College, along with the team at TransPennine Express, to celebrate the new artwork for our station. These panels capture both the pride we have in Selby’s rail heritage and the optimism we share for its future.
“Initiatives like this are a great way to strengthen the bond between our community and the railway that serves it, making every journey that starts or ends at Selby that bit brighter.”