Exhibition tells unheard stories of rail workers

A new exhibition is highlighting the achievements of Asian and Caribbean people who worked in the rail industry.

Gloucestershire Archives and Gloucester railway station are hosting the work which celebrates 200 years of railway history in the UK.

It features then-and-now photography, comparing Gloucester's railways past and present, alongside personal reflections and video reels captured during the six-month project.

Emma Morris at the Great Western Railway said: "The railway has long been shaped by the contributions of people from many communities, including those historically underrepresented in official histories. It's important we make space for these voices."

The project was led by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP).

GCRP's executive director Hannah McDonnell said: "It's about reconnecting communities with their history and inspiring new generations to see the railway as a place of belonging, opportunity, and change."

Through a series of community workshops, GCRP worked alongside local artists, Gloucestershire Archives and the University of Gloucestershire to collect personal stories.

The exhibition is open to the public at Gloucestershire Archives, as well as Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Cam & Dursley stations where it will remain on display for the next three months.

GCRP now plans to continue its work with young people and underrepresented groups, using rail heritage as a "tool for inspiration, opportunity, and connection".

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