Guide to the Greatest Gathering Festival

If you’re a certified train-lover, you probably already know all about the Greatest Gathering Festival. This three-day event is one of the biggest moments in the calendar for train enthusiasts, offering a chance to learn more about modern railways and to see some of the most iconic rail vehicles in history. 

Join CrossCountry as we explore the Greatest Gathering Festival, including details of how to get there and what to expect. 

What is the Greatest Gathering?

The Greatest Gathering is a three-day festival celebrating the 200-year history of the British railways. The event is taking place in Derby, hosted at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The event takes place from Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd August 2025.  

Tickets are already sold out, so the event promises to be an exciting weekend for many! 

How to get to the Greatest Gathering

The event is taking place in Derby, which is easy to get to using the CrossCountry network. Simply hop on-board one of our direct services to Derby station, which operate regularly from Birmingham New Street, Nottingham, Bristol Temple Meads, and beyond. 

From Derby station, Litchurch Lane Works is a 13-minute walk away.  

Travelling with CrossCountry Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd August

If you are travelling on CrossCountry trains while the Greatest Gathering is taking place, we recommend checking your travel. Services that pass through Derby are likely to be extremely busy, and we would encourage you to plan ahead and avoid the busiest days/times where possible. 

For each day of the event, the site will be open to ticket holders from 10:00 – 16:00. 

If you are travelling to the event, we recommend travelling on the following train services from Birmingham New Street to Derby, on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd August. 

• 06:03
• 07:03
• 08:03 

 200 Years of the Railway at Greatest Gathering

As part of this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, the world's largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains and rail-related exhibits will be taking place at the Greatest Gathering. 

This three-day festival will feature more than 100 iconic rail vehicles from the past, present and future of the railways, and marks the first time in almost 50 years that the train factory has been open to the general public. 

At the 2025 festival, you can find exhibits showcasing the fascinating history of the railway, as well as some of the most iconic modern locomotives and an exciting lookahead to future technology. 

One of the most exciting exhibits is Flying Scotsman, which is now over 100 years old! Additionally, you can see the world’s first steam locomotive, Locomotion No. 1.  

You can also find a wide range of modern carriages and vehicles from train operators from all over Britain, as well as a selection of narrow gauge and miniature locomotives. 

If you’re planning to visit the Greatest Gathering, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.