VISITORS can relive the experiences of a First World War soldier as a railway centre stages a 'poignant' event.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the conflict, Didcot Railway Centre is hosting Rails on the Western Front all of this bank holiday weekend.

Visitors will be able to discover the role trains played in the war in a recreated French station.

Members of the Great War Society will be present along with an ambulance train that served on the Western Front from 1917 to 1919.

A ‘WWI Trail’ will allow visitors to discover various war-related exhibits in the centre’s collection, with exhibits on display that are not normally available to the public.

On Sunday at 2pm there will be a commemorative service for the men of the Great Western Railway who died in the war and whose names are listed on the GWR Roll of Honour.

Tickets include all day train rides in genuine vintage carriages of the era.

Ann Middleton, commercial manager, said, "We are delighted to welcome back the Great War Society for Rails on the Western Front.

"Last year’s event inspired some of our volunteers to research their own family history and their stories are on display together with poppies to remember the 12 Great Western Railway staff from Didcot who died in the First World War and are listed on the GWR Roll of Honour.

"We hope we will inspire visitors to find out more about their own families."

See didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.