Michael Williams – Railway & Travel writer

Michael Williams:
author & journalist

Michael is a journalist, academic and author – writing, blogging and broadcasting on railways and the media. He is also a travel writer, having covered the world for a variety of publications. Read more…

The Trains
Now Departed

Michael Williams’s most recent book The Trains Now Departed: Sixteen excursions into the lost delights of Britain’s railways is published by Arrow Books. Find out more about Michael’s other books, including ‘On the Slow Train’, ‘On the Slow Train Again’ and ‘Steaming to Victory’.

A century of family railway enthusiasm

August 3, 2025

MY Son Edmund and I had great day in Derby to celebrate 200 years of Britain’s railways at the “Greatest Gathering” – the world’s biggest ever assembly of historic trains. Big-up to Alstom who hosted it in their historic Litchurch Lane factory!It sometimes seems fashionable to deride corporates. But here was a proud icon of manufacturing, supporting our great British train-making heritage. Long may it last.I was around for the last celebration, known as “Rail 150”. Edmund enjoyed it […]