A FESTIVAL of international importance will be staged to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The festival will be preceded by annual celebrations leading up to 2025, Councillor Nick Wallis said.

The countdown will begin with a celebratory event in 2015, staged to recognise the “pivotal role of the birthplace of passenger rail travel in the industrial revolution.”

At a meeting of Darlington Borough Council - held on Thursday, December 4 – Cllr Wallis stressed the importance of celebrating the founding of the world-famous railway.

Outlining early plans to celebrate the anniversary, he said: “We will work with groups, railway museums and other festivals to graft a vision for the future of our railway heritage.

“There’s a clear message from railway heritage groups as to the importance of 2025, the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

“There will be a festival – not just on a local, regional or national level but of international importance.

“Also, we will look at an annual celebration of the founding of the railway and how that could help to build momentum year on year as we approach 2025.

“The scale of this means a successful collaboration from an early stage is necessary with local authorities in Darlington and Stockton and railway museums in the region.

“We’ll be looking in the new year to coordinate interested parties in Darlington to see how they can fit into the process."

He added: “There has not been any allocation of money yet as we need to agree our vision and plans before money can be spent - I’m hoping there will be more information by new year.”

A report prepared ahead of the meeting said discussions had already been held between members of Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton Borough Council to discuss the anniversary and “determine the appetite for working over the long term and to jointly cooperate over an appropriate programme of events/activities.”

It said more intensive engagement with interested stakeholders, potential sponsors or funders would take place in early 2015.

Councillor Alan MacNab welcomed the plans on behalf of the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, saying: “We welcome 2025 and the action being taken with the celebration - the Friends will participate fully.”