This year English Heritage are celebrating the many ways the past has shaped our nation and this week, at a time when mobility is still restricted, we’re looking back at when a new mode of transport changed life in England forever. Before Britain fell in love with the motor car, and long before the dawn of international flights to exotic destinations, the dawn of rail travel marked a new chapter in England’s story. We’re joined by head collections curator, Dr Matt Thompson, to discuss the railways’ lasting legacy on the cultural and physical landscape of England.

To discover more about how different influences helped to shape the story of England, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/voicesofengland