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East Anglia About

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Membership

Join Railfuture by clicking here to join online, or to download an application form.

About Railfuture and the East Anglia Branch

The East Anglian Branch of Railfuture was formed in 1972 and covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire including Peterborough, North Essex, North Hertfordshire and East Bedfordshire (the main line from Stevenage to Peterborough to the west and all lines in East Anglia bounded by Stansted Mountfitchet and Kelvedon to the south).

The East Anglia branch holds four meetings a year for its members, which are open to the public, usually in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich.
Railfuture is the organisation for anyone who believes that the railway should play a bigger role in Britain's transport system.

If you are a rail user then Railfuture is here to help you. It is the only true 'rail passenger champion' throughout Great Britain, as it is independent from government, the rail industry, regulators, unions, political parties and other organisations. It exists solely to promote the railway for passengers and freight - supporting improvements and defending services. It campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services; a good passenger experience; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals.

Britain's railway is vital and it matters to everyone. Even if you don't travel by train you still benefit from the railway as a road user - roads couldn't cope with millions more cars and lorries. Without the railway being used to move goods and materials around the country then prices at the supermarket would be higher and even electricity costs would rise.

Railfuture is operated by volunteers, freely giving their time to lobby all arms of government, national and local, along with the rail industry. Working with the network of rail user groups across the country it representing rail users in Britain with thousands of affiliated and individual members. It is funded by annual subscriptions for its members (individuals, families, businesses) and affiliated groups.

Railfuture helps improve rail services by, for example, face-to-face meetings with government ministers and speaking to the people in the rail industry who can make things happen, inviting senior rail representatives to branch meetings. It produces research, including conducting independent passenger counts at stations and on-board trains. Tell Railfuture your views by attending our meetings, which are held throughout East Anglia and are free to attend, or one of our national conferences, which usually cost around £30 including lunch and refreshments. Why not invite a Railfuture representative to speak to your organisation?

East Anglia Branch Activities

The East Anglia branch of Railfuture, which campaigns for better passenger and freight rail services, is quite active by anyone's standards.

The branch holds four branch Meetings every year, in different venues around the region, all located near to railway stations. For details, see Branch Meetings.

There are four issues a year of "Rail East", the branch newsletter, which is sent to all members in the branch area and also opinion formers, particularly in Local Government.

The branch issues Press Releases to make the public, media and rail industry aware of Railfuture's position when news stories occur.

The officers (e.g. secretary, vice-chairman), others committee members and normal members give up their time to help promote rail travel. Time is spent on many activities including the following:
  • Promote the smaller stations to local people to ensure the station survies and, hopefully, thrives;
  • Conduct passenger counts at the smaller stations to encourage train operators to provide better services - see below;
  • Attending Route Utilisaton Strategy meetings organised by Network Rail;
  • Attending presentations by train operating companies;
  • Been guests of TOCs at events

The branch also contributes to Railfuture national events, and every few years organises the National AGM.
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