Tracks of Our Lives: Share Your Story for Railway 200

Do you remember your first trip to the seaside by train? The daily commute faces that became familiar friends? A chance encounter on a platform that changed everything? Railways are more than just trains and timetables, they are woven into our everyday moments, big and small. Now we want to hear your stories as part of the national Railway 200 celebrations.

Share your railway story with us this autumn. Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership (OxCRP) is inviting you to contribute your memorable railway moments to a new project called Tracks of Our Lives. We would love to hear from communities across Oxfordshire, especially those in Bicester, Banbury, and Kings Sutton.  Your story could become part of Tracks of Our Lives, an exhibition blending audio recordings, written stories and poems, and creative station artworks celebrating the region’s railway history.

What is Tracks of Our Lives?

Tracks of Our Lives captures community stories about railways. We're inviting your stories, memories, and reflections and turning them into a mulit-media exhibition celebrating local history and identity. Alongside the audio collection, selected  stories will also appear in a printed booklet and go on to inspire station artwork, ensuring we can share, remember, and celebrate them for years to come.

Renowned writer and performer Jonny Fluffypunk is supporting OxcRP in curating the project. Known for bringing humour and heart to everyday experiences, he'll help shape your words into creative soundscapes and poems that celebrate how railways have shaped lives across generations.

What is Railway 200?

This September marks 200 years of the modern railway in the UK. Since the early 19th century, railways have transformed how we travel, work, and build communities. They've carried people to new opportunities, supported industries, and connected towns and cities in ways that shaped modern life.

Railway 200 is happening nationwide with events, exhibitions, and activities across the country. Tracks of Our Lives is Oxfordshire's contribution, kindly supported by Chiltern Railways. We're giving our communities the chance to be part of this historic milestone by sharing personal experiences that show what railways really mean to people today.

Who can take part?

We want to hear from you if you're:

• Living or working in Oxfordshire, especially those in and around Bicester, Banbury, or Kings Sutton

• Part of community groups, schools, or faith organisations

• A rail passenger (whether you travel daily or occasionally)

• A railway worker who helps keep services running

• Someone with family connections to rail heritage

• From any generation or background, especially those voices that are often underrepresented 

Your story matters whether you're eight or eighty, whether your memory is funny, moving, ordinary, or extraordinary.

What are we trying to achieve?

We aim to gather at least 20 diverse stories that reflect the wide range of railway experiences in our communities. These stories will form the heart of Tracks of Our Lives, celebrating:

• Heritage: How railways have shaped communities for two centuries

• People: Stories from all ages and backgrounds

• Everyday life: How trains and stations are part of our shared culture

• Connection: Building bridges between generations and communities through storytelling

This isn't just about the past, we're also recognising how railways continue shaping our lives today and might shape our future.

When can you get involved?

“We’re collecting stories throughout September and October 2025 as part of the Railway 200 celebrations. Now is the perfect time to get involved. Share your story, encourage others to take part, and help us ensure the exhibition reflects the full richness of our local communities," Alayne McDonald, Community Rail Development Manager at OxCRP.

How can you share your story?

It's simple. You can share your story directly using the Google Form linked here.

Not sure how to start? Try answering one of these questions:

• What's your earliest memory of a train journey?

• Did the railway ever play a role in a big life event for you?

• What makes train travel special, compared to other journeys?

• Do you have a funny or unexpected railway memory?

  
  

Big or small, we want to hear it.

Why does this matter?

Railways are more than tracks and stations, they're backdrops to our lives. Railway stations are gateways to local communities and significant meeting points for local people. By collecting community stories, we ensure these personal experiences are celebrated alongside the big milestones of railway history.

This project is about inclusion. Every voice matters. By sharing your story, you'll help create a record that's richer, more diverse, and more reflective of real life.

When you listen to the final exhibition, you won't just hear stories, you'll hear your neighbours, classmates, colleagues, and friends.

Share your story

Tracks of Our Lives is your chance to be part of a once-in-200-years celebration. Share your story and help create an exhibition that's funny, moving, surprising, and above all, human.

Ready to share your railway story? Follow this link or email us at info@oxcrp.org.uk to find out more.