Railpen backs Darlington’s golden ticket initiative – opening doors for local children and honouring rail heritage

Launched by Lola McEvoy MP, the initiative reflects an inclusive vision, that no child should miss out on exploring Darlington’s rich railway history or enjoying fun, healthy play because of cost barriers. With an estimated 8,700 local children eligible, the golden ticket initiative will unlock new experiences for thousands of families, helping to instil pride in their town’s heritage and foster stronger community connections.

Hopetown, which opened its doors in 2024, is already a landmark destination. Owned and operated by Darlington Borough Council, it showcases over 30,000 artefacts celebrating the area’s world-leading railway story, from the pioneering days of the 1820’s through to the late 20th century. Wagon Woods, part of this innovative visitor site, brings that history to life in a way that’s interactive, inclusive and fun for all ages.

Speaking about the initiative, Lola McEvoy MP said: “It’s a chance to celebrate, inspire, and educate the next generation, marking 200 years since Darlington helped change the world with the birth of the modern railway!”

At Railpen, we're built on our rail heritage and history of helping everyday, hardworking people in the rail industry save for their retirement. And from our origins in Darlington, we've innovated and evolved to serve the needs of the industry and the financial future of its workers. So, being able to support initiatives like this that champion the past, present and future of rail in this Railway 200 year – and inspire future generations – is a real honour for us.

Children from local schools received their first tickets this June at the initiative's official launch event – Railpen's Mary Webb describes the community spirit: “It was such a gorgeous day. Lola’s passion for people and Darlington was infectious. It was lovely to see in real life how much of an impact backing great causes like this can have on local communities and the joy this initiative in particular has brought to the children of Darlington." 

Railpen joined partners, councillors, and community organisations in marking this important milestone and golden tickets are subsequently being distributed to local eligible children.