The world famous cantilever rail crossing was opened by the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, on the 4th March 1890, following around seven years of construction.

The Forth Bridge is 2467 meters in length and carries the Edinburgh–Aberdeen rail line over the Firth of Forth. At the time of opening it was the world’s longest single cantilever bridge span.

There will be a number of events on the 4th and 8th March 2025 to mark the anniversary:

• An education morning with local schoolchildren looking at the Forth Bridge’s design and construction on 4th March.
• A public exhibition of archive materials showing the history of the crossing on 4th March.
• Presentations from industry professionals on the history and ongoing maintenance of the Forth Bridge on 4th March.
• All day public event with experts, archive materials, activities and displays on 8th March.

Cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “The Forth Bridge is an iconic structure, known around the world, and it is very fitting that we mark the 135 years of service it has provided for Scotland’s rail network.

“This series of events will celebrate the crossing’s links with the local community and give people an insight into the history of the bridge, as well as the year-round efforts that go into its maintenance today.

“Around three million passengers cross the Forth Bridge every year, and I look forward to it continuing to play this vital role for our transport network for years to come.”

More details on the events are available here.