This year’s event – the 10th anniversary of the Great Electric Train Show - is set to feature 30 layouts, more than 45 trade stands, demonstrations, a free shuttle bus service from Milton Keynes Central railway station and free parking. The headline layout will be one of the biggest ever ‘OO’ gauge portable layouts – Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks 3 layout combined all three layouts from 2021, 2022 and 2023 together to create one single 152ft x 14ft West Coast Main Line layout with Milton Keynes Central station as its centrepiece.
Hornby Magazine Publisher Mike Wild said: “We are pulling all the stops out to make this huge layout possible and working closely with Pete and the Railnuts group to bring it to the Great Electric Train Show. We are all very excited to see the completed layout together especially with Milton Keynes Central station as its centrepiece.”
Discounted advance tickets allowing early entry from 9.30am are on sale now with prices set at £15 for adults (£12 for subscribers) and £8 for children (Saturday only) – kids go free on Sunday, up two permitted per paying adult. In addition the VIP ticket is back once more and includes two-day entry to the show, £25 of Key Publishing model and railway publications, early entry to the show each day at 09.30 access to a VIP lounge and more. All tickets are available to purchase from the Key Model World Shop.
Due to a football match taking place on Saturday at the MK Dons Stadium next door, parking on Saturday October 14 will be at the Milton Keynes Bowl - MK5 8AA. Parking is available for free between 8am-6.30pm at the Bowl and a free vintage bus service will be in operation throughout the day. Disabled parking will be available at the venue on Saturday October 14.
In addition we are honouring Saturday advance tickets on Sunday as well should you wish to change the day of your visit.
Parking on Sunday October 15 will be at the Marshall Arena. The car park is now ANPR monitored for payment, but Great Electric Train Show visitors can still park for free by logging their vehicle registration number on the tablets inside the venue prior to departure.
Final times for the shuttle buses from Milton Keynes Central station and the Milton Keynes Bowl car park will be published ahead of the show.
The latest show information will be published here on the dedicated Great Electric Train Show pages below and we look forward to welcome visitors to the show on October 14/15 2023 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
Mike Wild
Publisher, Modelling
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For the 2023 Great Electric Train Show Pete Waterman and the Railnuts Group will be presenting the Making Tracks layouts like you have never seen them before – as a single 152ft x 14ft super layout. Don't miss your chance to see this amazing West Coast Main Line layout on October 14/15 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Read the full story here.
SAVE! Order discount advance Great Electric Train Show tickets today.
Latest layouts
Tulloch Bridge – Scotland in the 2000s
Tulloch Bridge is set on the picturesque West Highland Line in Scotland, a few stations South of Fort William. The operational periods cover 2004 and 2012 in ‘OO’ gauge.
MARTIN STEWART.
Staple and Ash East Kent ‘OO’ gauge model railway
Opened in 1916 as part of the East Kent Railway (EKR), Staple & Ash station was said to be the busiest on the EKR. This ‘OO’ gauge layout recreates the location in the 1930s.
NOEL YOUNG
Lockwood Street in 2mm finescale
This is the latest project from the Hull MRS ‘N’ gauge group. It is an urban secondary terminus station, inspired by the former Hull and Barnsley Railway’s terminus at Cannon Street in Hull.
PAUL DERRICK
Hills of the North – the Spirit of Shap in ‘OO’
This superb 35ft long ‘OO’ gauge layout sets out to capture the challenging railway on the approach to Shap Summit on the West Coast Main Line. See it at the Great Electric Train Show this October.
GRAHAM NICHOLAS
OO Live Steam Club
The OO Live Steam Club is returning to the 2023 Great Electric Train Show with its hands-on live steam display.
CHARLES LEEKAM
Dublingham – shunting with three-rail
TONY HARRIS set out to see if he could follow the railway rulebook accurately as a Hornby Dublo three-rail model collector. Dublingham is the result.
TONY HARRIS
Scarlington
The NOEL Group’s fabulous ‘N’ gauge exhibition layout Scarlington is joining the 2023 Great Electric Train Show.
NICK SKELTON
Kinlochewe
This ‘OO’ gauge layout models a might-have-been station in Scotland in the BR blue diesel era.
NICK SKELTONVisitor Information
Venue
Marshall Arena, Stadium MK, Stadium Way, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST
When
October 14/15 2023, Doors open at 10am (9.30am for advance ticket holders) until 5pm on Saturday and until 4pm on Sunday.
Tickets
Advance ticket holders receive entry 30 minutes earlier than the normal opening times.
On-the-door tickets will be available on each day the show is open from the Ticket Desk at the Main Entrance.
A child ticket is valid for children between 5-16 years of age.
Persons over 16 years of age will be charged an Adult ticket price and there are no concession tickets for persons over 60 years of age.
| TICKET TYPE | ADVANCE PRICE | ON THE DOOR PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Adult VIP (advance only) | £45 | - |
| Adult | £15 | £17 |
| Adult Subscriber | £12 | £17 |
| Child (Saturday) | £8 | £9 |
| Child (Sunday) | FREE* | FREE* |
* 2 children max per paying adult
Great Electric Train Show – Disabled Visitor Policy
The Great Electric Train Show does not offer a special rate to disabled visitors, but does offer free admission for carers who are accompanying disabled visitors.
A maximum of one carer for each disabled visitor is permitted access to the Show free of charge to accompany and enable the disabled person to visit the exhibition.
Carer admission tickets are not available online and can only be collected from the Great Electric Train Show Ticket Desk situated inside the Main Entrance.
Visitors who have the following documentation are entitled to one free carer ticket, however, the visitor with the disability and any further members of their party will pay full price.
Visitors can use the following documentation as proof of disability:
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Attendance Allowance (AA)
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Blind Persons Registration
Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
Visitors must show the relevant paperwork at the Ticket Desk when they buy or collect their ticket.
Getting to the Event
Due to a football match taking place on Saturday October 14 2023 at the MK Dons Stadium next door, parking on Saturday October 14 will be at the Milton Keynes Bowl - MK5 8AA - with is five minutes drive from the venue. Parking is available for free between 8am-6.30pm at the Bowl and a free vintage bus service will be in operation throughout the day linking the car park and venue. Note all parking at the venue is reserved for the football match. Disabled parking will be available at the venue on Saturday October 14 in a designated area.
In addition we are honouring Saturday advance tickets on Sunday as well should you wish to change the day of your visit.
Parking on Sunday October 15 will be at the Marshall Arena. The car park is now ANPR monitored for payment, but Great Electric Train Show visitors can still park for FREE by logging their vehicle registration number on the tablets inside the venue prior to departure.
FREE parking is available to GETS visitors in S1, S2 or S3 marked in blue.
Venue Directions and Parking Map
A FREE shuttle bus service will be running throughout both show days from Milton Keynes Central railway station to the Marshall Arena operated.
Marshall Arena Catering Outlets.
Marshall Arena Indoor Bar Catering – 9.30am until 4pm
Outside Catering Van – 8.30am until 2pm
These outlets will be operating a contactless payment system only.
Exhibitor Information
Risk Assessment Form for Exhibitors and Traders
Covid Regulations
The Great Electric Train Show will adhere to Government regulations that may be in place in respect of COVID-19 at the time of the show. For updates on this please refer to www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Event Contact Details
General Enquiries
Julie Hawes
Email: julie.hawes@keypublishing.com
Layout Enquiries
Mike Wild
Email: mike.wild@keypublishing.com
Trader Bookings
Brodie Baxter
Tel: 01780 755131