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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Latest News
REVEALED: The top ten reasons to visit the 2023 Great Electric Train Show
With four weeks to go until the doors open to the 10th anniversary Great Electric Train Show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, we've picked our top ten highlights of the 2023 event which takes place on October 14/15.
MIKE WILD
PREVIEW: The 2023 Great Electric Train Show
On October 14/15, the doors will open to the 2023 Great Electric Train Show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. With so much packed into the 10th anniversary show, MIKE WILD explores the full line-up in this event preview.
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Six weeks to the Great Electric Train Show!
The final countdown to the 2023 Great Electric Train Show is on. Catch up on the latest event news including parking and the advance ticket sales deadline.
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Making Tracks at the Great Electric Train Show
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
Twelvemill Bridge
Debuting at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show is Key Model World and Hornby Magazine’s latest project layout: Twelvemill Bridge.
Mike Wild.
Ranelagh Bridge
Malcolm Bentley set out to recreate his 1970s spotting days in West London by modelling the famous Ranelagh Bridge stabling point outside London Paddington station.
MALCOLM BENTLEY
Polcombe Regis
Polcombe Regis a rural Southern Region terminus set in the 1960s and modelled in ‘N’ gauge.
MARK POLLARD.
Tamcester
Tamcester is a large town somewhere between London and Birmingham, served on a loop off the West Coast Main Line and modelled in ‘N’ gauge.
BEN SHARICH
Thorne Yard
Thorne Yard is set in the 1980s, somewhere in the Midlands or central Scotland and models a departmental yard and run-round facility.
SIMON HOWARD.
White Meadow Quarry
This compact ‘N’ gauge layout models a busy main line station with a quarry behind. See it at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show.
RAY TAYLOR AND ANNA BASS.
Five Elms MPD
Set between 1964 and 1967, Five Elms MPD captures the end of British Railways steam in the South and is modelled in ‘OO’ gauge.
HARRY POLLARD.
St John’s
This Great Western Railway branch line terminus is set by the seaside and modelled in ‘OO’ gauge.
Paul Warden.Visitor 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