Wednesday the 28th of June has seen TransPennine Express celebrate the bicentenary of the world’s first locomotive works.

The rail operator unveiled Nova 1 train 802208 with its new name, ‘Diligence’ at Darlington Station, in order to mark the bicentenary of Robert Stephenson & Co.

Paul Staples, Fleet Director at TPE, said “Robert Stephenson counts amongst Great Britain’s finest engineers of the 19th century.”

“It’s an honour to pay homage to such a pioneer in our industry by naming one of our Nova 1 trains after one of his own iconic locomotives.”

In 1823, was established in Forth Street in Newcastle upon Tyne and became a renowned name in the manufacturing of locomotives and the very first of its kind, dedicated solely to building railway engines.

The impressive Forth Street site had seen 3,000 locomotives built by 1899 when a new company was created, Robert Stephenson and Company Limited, which saw the opening of the Darlington works.

Paul added:“’Diligence’ reminds us of where rail in the UK started, with our newly named Nova 1 now sharing a name with one of the first locomotives on the Stockton and Darlington railway.”

“It’s wonderful to think that 200 years after the first Stephenson locomotives worked in the north east, our modern bi-mode trains – one of which is bearing the same name – are carrying tens of thousands of people each year in the same region.”

Donald Heath OBE, Robert Stephenson Trust Chair said:“It’s an honour to have witnessed the unveiling of ‘Diligence’ at Darlington Station.”

“The creation of Robert Stephenson & Co, and the opening of the ‘locomotive factory’ in 1823 was a milestone, not just in Robert’s career, but also in the development of railways worldwide.”

“Robert Stephenson played a key part in the history of our railways and it’s great that we are still recognising the impact he had.”