Railfuture encourages all rail users to join their local Rail User Group, which represents users' interests to the local train operating company to improve services and stations in their area. If there is no rail user group locally, Railfuture can help you to set one up! Rail user groups have their own national monthly newsletter Rail User Express produced by Railfuture.
Many rail user groups are affiliated to Railfuture, which provides a forum in which they can exchange ideas and experiences, co-ordinate rail development priorities, and contribute to the case for better rail services locally and nationally. Railfuture can help affiliated groups to work together to achieve common goals and can provide support through our Fighting Fund. Two presentations given by Railfuture director Stewart Palmer (formerly MD with South West Trains) at our Summer 2018 conference on Lobbying train operators successfully and Building relationships with train operators show how Railfuture can help rail user groups to campaign more effectively.
Even if their RUG is affiliated, we welcome RUG members to also join Railfuture to campaign for wider national rail issues.
The following list all known rail user groups (RUGs) and rail reopening campaign groups (RoCs) throughout Britain, in alphabetical order or by Railfuture branch area:
(1) National railway societies and clubs
(2) Specialised national railway societies
(3) Historical railway societies
(4) Local railway clubs
(5) UK based international railway societies.
There were no Awards in 2019 owing to a re-scheduling of Railfuture's national events, and none in 2020 or 2021 due to the disruptive effects of the pandemic. The next Rail User Group Awards are now being planned for presentation at the Annual General Meeting near Bristol in July 2022. The monthly Rail User Express will carry updates.
The RUG Awards page brings all our more detailed coverage together.
Many rail user groups are affiliated to Railfuture, which provides a forum in which they can exchange ideas and experiences, co-ordinate rail development priorities, and contribute to the case for better rail services locally and nationally. Railfuture can help affiliated groups to work together to achieve common goals and can provide support through our Fighting Fund. Two presentations given by Railfuture director Stewart Palmer (formerly MD with South West Trains) at our Summer 2018 conference on Lobbying train operators successfully and Building relationships with train operators show how Railfuture can help rail user groups to campaign more effectively.
Even if their RUG is affiliated, we welcome RUG members to also join Railfuture to campaign for wider national rail issues.
The following list all known rail user groups (RUGs) and rail reopening campaign groups (RoCs) throughout Britain, in alphabetical order or by Railfuture branch area:
- View or download RUGs National A-Z list (622kb PDF. January 2022)
- View or download RUGs Regional/Branch List (603kb PDF. January 2022)
- View or download RoCs National A-Z list (525kb PDF. January 2022)
Railway Club Directory
Railfuture member Richard Bowry has developed a Railway Club Directory of around 200 entries, promoting the interests of:(1) National railway societies and clubs
(2) Specialised national railway societies
(3) Historical railway societies
(4) Local railway clubs
(5) UK based international railway societies.
Rail User Group Awards
The often-unsung successes of Rail User Groups were recognised and rewarded for the very first time on the national stage in Railfuture's inaugural 2012 RUG Awards, and again in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Judging Panel of Railfuture Vice-Presidents had met in October 2018 to decide the winners from among the entries for the 2018 Awards, which had closed in early-September. Results were announced by Vice-President Stewart Palmer when he made the presentations at our national conference in Reading on Saturday 10 November 2018.There were no Awards in 2019 owing to a re-scheduling of Railfuture's national events, and none in 2020 or 2021 due to the disruptive effects of the pandemic. The next Rail User Group Awards are now being planned for presentation at the Annual General Meeting near Bristol in July 2022. The monthly Rail User Express will carry updates.
The RUG Awards page brings all our more detailed coverage together.