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Railfuture in the news

Railfuture is frequently quoted by the media in newspapers, transport magazines, online and on radio and television.

Below are some recent examples of Railfuture being reported. If you know of any we've missed, then email media at railfuture.org.uk with details.


2024


15th March - BBC Radio Devon

Railfuture director Roger Blake is interviewed about Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance's aspirations to link Bideford to Barnstaple. Llisten here or download here.

13th March - E-Rail

E-Rail quotes Railfuture's Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake on Land Value Capture, the pioneering financing model supporting delivery of the Northumberland Line.

10th March - Devon Live

The third newspaper to pick up on our press release about the launch of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance.

5th March - North Devon Gazette

Our press release about the inauguration of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance is picked up again.

3rd March - The Guardian

The Guardian is one of many media outlets to pick up on our press release about fare rises, including inews, The Independent, LBC, London Evening Standard, Sky News , GB News, The Mirror and the Telegraph.

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is interviewed on Matthew Wright's show on LBC (listen here or download here)), whilst Railfuture director Neil Middleton appears on its sister station LBC News (listen here or download here)).

The next day, he is interviewed on the BBC Radio Berkshire breakfast show. Llisten here or download here.

2nd March - Rail Advent

Our press release about the inauguration of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance is picked up.

1st March - Chime Whistle Publishing

The blogger picks up on our press release.

1st March - Crediton Courier

The first newspaper to pick up on our press release about the launch of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, with the aim of securing a new rail link between Bideford and Barnstaple and upgrade of the North Devon (Tarka) Line between Exeter and Barnstaple.

16th February - Daily Mail

The Mail is one of many media outlets to pick up on our press release about LNER's fare structure change. Railfuture director Neil Middleton is quoted: 'The removal of the Super Off-Peak ticket is an awful move. Just the possibility or having to pay over £192 for a railway ticket to travel between King's Cross and Newcastle is enough to put you off travelling by train, possibly forever."

The story appears in the Telegraph, Express, Guardian, Independent, Mirror, GB News, MSN, Yahoo! and many others.

Neil is also interviewed on LBC News. Listen here or download here.

31th January - BBC Radio Sheffield

Yorkshire branch vice-chair Andrew Dyson is invited onto the breakfast show to discuss the impact of the latest rail strikes. Listen here or download here.

30th January - Sky news

Railfuture director Neil Middleton discusses fares, investment and the general state of the railway.


30th January - LBC

With yet another round of strikes taking place, Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is invited onto the drive time programme to discuss the impact on the railway. Listen here or download here.

23rd January - City A.M.

"I’ll never take Eurostar again" is the headline of an article describing some of the problems that have affected cross-channel rail services. Railfuture director Jerry Alderson is quoted: "Management seems unable to cope with such problems, appearing to have no procedures in place to manage customers or their personal situation. Too many passengers encounter serious delays and a lack of support resulting in an ‘I’ll never take Eurostar again’ response. No business can afford this.”

17th January - Greatest Hits Radio

A frustrated commuter has used an FOI request to obtain data about the number and causes of delays on the GWML. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted: "We know the industry is not doing it deliberately, they want to run a reliable railway as well, but in the real world things do go wrong, break down, people get sick, infrastructure crumbles there's weather-related incidents, there's all sorts of causes. I think any rail passenger who experiences delays or cancellations has a right to feel frustrated. We all want a railway that is reliable, that is affordable that works for passengers."

16th January - LBC News

LNER has simplified its ticketing in a two year experiment. Is this good news for passengers? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson offers his thoughts. Listen here or download here.

12th January - Cambridge News

The paper prints an article on East Anglia branch's plans to reopen the Cambridge to Haverhill railway line.

The story is also picked up by the Cambridge Independent.



2023


23rd December - Rail Advent

"Railfuture’s lukewarm response to government rail freight growth plans" is the title of an article picking up our earlier press release.

22nd December - LBC and LBC News

The two sister stations want Railfuture's opinion on the fare rises in March of 4.9%. First up, Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on LBC News, (listen here or download here.) and then Railfuture director Neil Middleton is on LBC (listen here or download here).

20th December - Southern Region Stakeholder Newsletter, Kent

Railfuture's helpful presence at the annual Faversham Transport Festival back in May is mentioned in Network Rail's review of the year, "Celebrating Community Rail".

17th December - BBC Radio 4

Michelle Handforth, who was Network Rail's managing director for the Wales and Western Region, has resigned after problems with the Elizabeth line and more. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears in a news report which is broadcast on the Six O'clock News, Westminster Hour and Midnight News, as well as being quoted on the BBC News website and the BBC News TV channel. Listen here or download here.

14th December - 5 News

The programme includes a report on the apparent growing attractiveness of coach travel. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is interviewed to put the case for rail.

3rd December - LBC

Aslef has commenced a series of strikes which will affect most services in England at some point. What's Railfuture's point of view? Spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on Matthew Wright's breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

20th November - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

The scheme to reopen the line to Wisbech seems to be stuck in perpetual delay. East Anglia branch vice-chair Peter Wakefield is invited on to the breakfast show to discuss the lack of progress. Listen here or download here.

18th November - Cambridge Independent

The paper devotes an article to Railfuture's campaign to reinstate the line between Cambridge and Haverhill. It writes: "Railfuture East Anglia has stepped up its campaign calling for the reopening of the railway line between Haverhill and Cambridge. The volunteer-run rail user group says the move could link the city’s forthcoming Cambridge South station on the Biomedical Campus to Granta Park, Linton and Haverhill, covering a catchment of about 100,000 people."

15th November - BBC Look East

London & South East regional branch vice-chair talks about fare evasion on c2c.

1st November - BBC Radio Bristol

The government's U-turn on ticket office closures is welcomed by Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson, who appears on the breakfast show. His comments also appear in later news bulletins. Listen here or download here.

31st October - Eastern Daily Press

The paper picks up on our press release about ticket office closures, and Railfuture director Neil Middleton is quoted: “Those proposals do not protect the many millions of passengers who cannot buy tickets other than at ticket offices. We are particularly concerned that, whatever the watchdogs say, having considered the views of over 680,000 respondents, their recommendations may ultimately be rejected by the Secretary of State for Transport.”

The story is also picked up by Rail Business UK.

30th October - BBC Radio Manchester

Avanti is reducing the number of services between London and Manchester, blaming staff shortages and industrial action. Do these excuses wash? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the lunchtime programme to offer his opinion. Listen here or download here.

24th October - LBC

The Transport Select Committee has said that ticket office closures are happening "too far, too fast". Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson offers his views. Listen here or download here.

7th October - Talk TV

In the aftermath of the cancelling of the HS2 second leg, Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the Talk TV Breakfast show to discuss where we go from here. Click here to view.

5th October - BBC Radio Sheffield

Yorkshire branch vice-chair Andrew Dyson is invited on to the breakfast show to give his view on the efffect of the cancellation of HS2 on services in the North of England. Listen here or download here.

30th September - LBC News

On a day of further rail strikes, what are the prospects for resolving this dispute and what will be the impact on the railway longer term? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson offers his view. Listen here or download here.

26th September - LBC

There's a lot to complain about on the railway at the moment, and presenter Shelagh Fogarty has had some unpleasant experiences. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is invited onto her show to discuss the causes and possible solutions to Britains' railway woes. Listen here or download here.

24th September - LBC

The station reacts to rumours that Rishi Sunak will scrap the second leg of HS2 to Manchester. Nick Abbot talks to Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson at length about the issues. Listen here or download here.

21st September - Bury Free Press

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt is calling for upgrades at Haughley and Ely rail junctions to be ‘top of the agenda’. Christopher Burton, vice chairman of East Anglia branch agrees, and believes that works should start immediately on the two bridges immediately north of Ely.

He is quoted: “Because there are some question marks, so I’m told, over the durability of the two bridges immediately north of Ely station, money should be spent here first. After all, it would be catastrophic if the story of Nuneham Bridge near Radley, earlier this year, became replicated with these local bridges. If one of those bridges fails, it will cost millions of pounds.”

19th September - i News

Avanti and CrossCountry have been given new rail contracts.

Bruce Williamson, of passenger group Railfuture told i the reason the DfT has awarded the two underperforming companies new contracts was likely to be a case of “better the devil they know”.

He said: “Actually CrossCountry have pulled their socks up. You would hope that the threat of the Government pulling out of these nine-year contracts early would be enough to encourage better management.”

14th September - Daily Mail

Under the headline "Peak ScotRail fares scrapped to get more commuters travelling by train - but some could end up paying MORE," Railfuture Scotland's Jane Ann Lston is quoted: "‘Anything that encourages more people to travel by train is a good thing and it’s good they are recognising travel patterns are changing. But naturally people are going to be miffed if they discover, effectively, their rail fares are going to be increased. I think we will be keeping a very close eye on it."

13th September - York Press

Nina Smith, chair of the Yorkshire branch, is quoted in the York Press on fare rises, describing them as "unacceptable".

"Not only is this a difficult increase to bear when there is a cost of living crisis, bur fares of this level may discourage people from using trains,"

9th September - BBC Radio Oxford

Trains serving Oxfordshire are amongst the worst for punctuality. Dave Richardson from Thames Valley branch is invited onto the radio to discuss. Listen here or download here.

2nd September - BBC Radio Sheffield

Strikes, ticket office closures, rail fares - is there any good news for the railway? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the breakfast show to discuss these issues. Listen here or download here.

24th August - Modern Railways

"Tarka Line potential" - Railfuture's Fighting Fund, supporting an Initial Business Case for the Torridge & North Devon Connectivity Programme, is mentioned in a letter to the editor in the September issue which responds to part of an article in the August issue.

24th August - Oxford Mail

Railfuture is urging passengers to oppose ticket office closures. Dave Richardson of Thames Valley branch says many more passengers could lose out if there is no-one at stations to buy a ticket from, and some may be put off travelling by rail altogether.

“We know that train operators are being forced to make economies by the Government, but this isn’t the right thing to do,” he said. “If passengers are driven off the railways because of the difficulty buying tickets and ever increasing fares, it’s bad for everyone and undermines our efforts to travel ‘greener’ rather than by car."

22nd August - BBC Radio Somerset

Bath Spa ticket office has reopened after the earlier ceiling collapse forced tis temporary closure, giving passengers a taste of things to come if the government closes them permanently. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the breakfast show to offer his view. Listen here or download here.

His comments are also quoted in an article on the BBC News website

17th August - East Lothian Courier

The paper reports that RAGES (Rail Action Group, East of Scotland) won the gold award for best campaign in Railfuture’s Rail User Group Awards.

16th August - BBC Radio Bristol

There was a protest at Bath Spa station against ticket office closures. The ticket office at Bath has already closed because the ceiling has collapsed. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the drive time programme to discuss this and rail fare increases. Listen here or download here.

16th August - Daily Telegraph

July's inflation figures have just been released, which are used to set next year's rail fare increases. The government claims that fares will go up by less than inflation, but haven't said what that increase will actually be. Railfuture spokemsan Bruce Williamson is quoted: “What is shocking is the contrast between motorists’ fuel duty and rail fares. The Government has continued with their 5p cut in fuel duty for motorists yet they have still put up rail fares, making trains relatively more expensive than driving. We should be encouraging people to use trains, not deterring them.”

8th August - Devon Live

"Devon County Council wins rail service award" - a liberally-illustrated article. about RUG Awards.

1st August - Dundee Courier

Scotland branch secretary Jane Ann Liston has a letter printed entitled "Highland rail line must be doubled." She writes: "If we are to have a ghost of a chance of reducing harmful emissions, there has to be a switch from road transport, both for freight and people, to the much more environmentally friendly railway. .... the Highland line between Perth and Inverness must be doubled and should have been years ago."

1st August - BBC Radio Bristol

Portway Park & Ride station has opened, claimed to be the first station in Bristol for nearly100 years. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the breakfast show and his comments are featured in news bulletins throughout the day. Listen here or download here.

29th July - RUG Awards in Tarka Rail Association's "Station News"

Railfuture's five Awards for three Devon organisations, after this year's national AGM in London, mentioned in the 8th edition of the TRA's twice-yearly poster which is displayed in their noticeboards at all 12 Tarka Line stations.

26th July - Community Rail News

"Friends of Bishopstone Station celebrate multi-award success" - reference to their Gold Award and two Commendations in Railfuture's RUG Awards, in the regular fortnightly bulletin from the Community Rail Network.

25th July - BBC Radio Sheffield

Yorkshire branch vice chair Andrew Dyson is interviewed on the breakfast show about the impact of the proposed ticket office closures. Listen here or download here.

24th July - Barnstaple Town Council - Mayor's announcements

"The Mayor reported the following:
~ Tim Steer, Town Centre Ranger and local rail campaigner has been awarded the Best Campaigner and best Social Media awards the Railfuture Rail User National Awards at the University of London, earlier this month.
~ At the same ceremony Devon County Council also received a special award for rail development and public transport."

23rd July - Great Torrington Town Council's "Celebrations, consultations and competitions ... oh my!"

"Devon honoured to receive Railfuture award" - reflecting the Devon County Council story from 17th July (below).

21st July - Devon's five RUG Awards in Crediton Courier, Okehampton Times, Tavistock Times Gazette, Tamar Valley Times, Totnes Times

"Devon scooped most awards at national Railfuture ceremony" - the same report appears in several local newspapers!

18th July - RUG Awards in Rail Business Daily

"Triple awards success for Bishopstone station community volunteers" - winners of a joint Gold and two Commendations: the Friends of Bishopstone Station (Facebook).

17th July - RUG Awards in Sussex World

"Triple awards success for Bishopstone station community volunteers" - winners of a joint Gold and two Commendations: the Friends of Bishopstone Station (website).

17th July - Exeter Daily

"Devon honoured to receive Railfuture award" - reflecting the Devon County Council story from 17th July (below).

17th July - RUG Award for Devon County Council

Following their Judges' Special Award received on Saturday, "Devon honoured to receive Railfuture award" said the Council's press release. Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, who received the award presented by Hon. President Christian Wolmar, said: "This award is an unexpected honour and an incredible achievement for the County Council. It’s extremely pleasing to know that effort has been recognised by Railfuture and we thank them for this award."

13th July - BBC Radio Nottingham

East Midlands branch spokesperson Ariadne Tampion gives her view on ticket office closures. Listen here or download here.

9th July - (Bradford) Telegraph and Argus

Yorkshire branch chair Nina Smith is quoted in a story on ticket office closures: “It’s absolutely disastrous. What this will do is inconvenience nearly 150 million passengers nationally, who use ticket offices. There isn’t the same choice of tickets at the ticket machine, and they are complicated to use...... We ask the government to scrap the plans.”

6th July - BBC local radio

There's more coverage of ticket office closures:

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on BBC Radio Somerset. Listen here or download here.

Railfuture director Neil Middleton appears on BBC Radio Humberside. Listen here or download here.

Neil then appears on BBC Radio Surrey . Listen here or download here.

The next day, Yorkshire branch vice-chair Andrew Dyson appears on BBC Radio Sheffield. . Listen here or download here.

5th July - BBC Radio 4

Railfuture director Stewart Palmer appears on the Today programme to comment on widespread ticket office closures. His comments are repeated in news bulletins on BBC local radio. Listen here or download here.

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson discusses the same topic on
LBC (Listen here or download here), and is also featured in Sky News Radio bulletins carried on stations across the country (Listen here or download here). Also commenting is Railfuture's Kent divisional organiser Chris Fribbins on
BBC Radio Kent . Listen here or download here.

3rd July - Ticket office closures

Several publications pick up on our press release about the expected announcement of widespread ticket office closures. Railfuture director Neil Middleton is quoted on the Sky News website: "If this change drives passengers off the trains, then we'll all be worse off, even though there may be a cost saving, if fewer passengers are on the trains it is very easy to see that income will reduce. It may be more expensive to sell to the 12% of travellers who buy in-person, but is it really a good idea to give up all of the fare of a traveller who decides not to travel by train in order to save some of the cost?"

He is also quoted in The Guardian, the Manchester Evening News, on the ITV News website and inews

16th June - Times Radio

The Office of Rail and Road is going to investigate station food and drink prices after complaints that prices are far higher than on the high street. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson Is invited on to the late night show and gives the proposal a warm welcome. Listen here or download here.

14th June - RAIL

Following our 11th May press release, RAIL magazine picks up the story in issue 985 under the headline "Railfuture presses for date for Marston Line reopening."

12th June - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

LNER has scrapped return tickets, meaning that passengers will now have to buy two singles instead. East Anglia branch chair Nick Dibben is invited on to the breakfast show to offer his thoughts. Listen here or download here.

8th June - BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Strikes, rail fares and unreliability of services are conspiring to make rail less attractive. Can we trust the railways to get us where we want to go? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson offers his views. Listen here or download here.

31st May - Rail magazine

The magazine prints an article based on our press release, under the headline "Railfuture urges contactless rethink". Railfuture directors Ian Brown and Neil Middleton are both quoted.

29th May - BBC Radio 4

The station asks "what are the railways for?" Yorkshire branch chair Nina Smith
thinks she has part of the answer as she is interviewed at Hebden Bridge station.
Listen here or download here.

28th May - Sky News

Dennis Fancett from North East branch is interviewed on Sky News about Transpennine losing its contract after a long period of poor performance. lCick here to watch on YouTube.

23rd May - BBC Radio Sussex

Railfuture chairman Chris Page is interviewed on the breakfast show about TfL's proposal to scrap one day travelcards. Listen here or download here.

25th May - Rye News

Destination Winchelsea reports the return of all-day every day hourly services for Southern's MarshLink's stations at Winchelsea and Three Oaks after 17 years of campaigning by Three Oaks and Winchelsea Action for Rail Transport (THWART), and features L&SE Branch Vice-Chair Roger Blake display a Railfuture business card with the caption Does what it says on the tin.

22 May - The Guardian

The DfT is proposing to remove wifi from trains as a cost cutting measure. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted:

“One of the great things about travelling by train is that you can work or watch a video or listen to a podcast – and wifi is pretty essential for that. We should be encouraging passengers to get back on the trains and this is a good example of a move that is going to make rail less attractive.”

The story is also picked up by inews, and Bruce is also quoted in The Telegraph: "All this is going to do long-term is make rail less attractive, and maybe put people off travelling by train at all. It might even be counterproductive for that reason."

20th May - Cambridge News

"The Cambridgeshire town that used to have 3 train stations but now has none" is the headline - that town being Wisbech. The story reports on Railfuture's campaign to link the town back to Cambridge by rail.

19th May - MyLondon

The website reports on TFL's response to Railfuture's criticism of its plans to scrap Day Travelcards. Remarkably, Sadiq Khan’s travel chief Seb Dance described Railfuture's criticism as a "fair comment"!

18th May - Gloucestershire LIve

There will be more frequent trains connecting Gloucester to Bristol and the South West after a timetable shake-up. A spokesman for Railfuture is quoted: “These new train services will improve journeys to work, school, college, hospital shopping and leisure and tourism facilities.”

15th May - BBC Radio Essex

Transport for London is planning to scrap one day travelcards. Railfuture spokesman "Bruce Williams" offers his thoughts on why this is a bad move for passengers. Listen here or download here.

15th May - MyLondon

Under the headline "Sadiq Khan slammed over 'exclusionary' TfL plans to scrap Day Travelcards", the website picks up on our press release, quoting Railfuture director Ian Brown: “Contactless isn’t yet fit for purpose – it’s still for individuals, not groups, such as families, nor does it yet support Railcards. Also it’s exclusionary – not everyone has debit/credit cards, or any spending power on a card, and if you are not 'fully digital' checking spend, getting refunds etc becomes difficult to impossible."

The story also features on RailBusinessDaily

13th May - BBC Radio Five LIve

Railfuture is again consulted about strikes and TransPennine Express, as Andrew Dyson of Yorkshire branch is interviewed at length on BBC Radio Five LIve, with a clip of him later appearing in the news on BBC Radio 4. Listen here or download here.

12th May - Rail Business Daily.

The website gives extesive coverage of Railfuture's recent conference with the theme: Turning Point for the Railway.

12th May - LBC

With another weekend of strikes looming, Railfuture chair Chris Page appears on Nick Ferrari's breakfast show alongside rail minister Huw Merriman and professor Gregor Gall. Listen here or download here.

Sister station LBC News invites Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson onto its breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

11th May - BBC Radio Five Live

TransPennine Express is being renationalised after a long track record of poor performance. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is invited on to the drive time show to discuss. Listen here or download here.

Bruce also appears on the drivetime show on BBC Radio Scotland. Listen here or download here.

11th May - Rail Advent

The website picks up on our press release under the headline "Railfuture calls for updates on Marston Vale Line services".

20th April - North Devon Journal

Rail link is "needed now more than ever" says front page headline. Inside headline: "Rail link is more vital than ever 60 years after Beeching cuts" says ACE over report which includes "Mr Steer said: "We have been successful in securing funding from Railfuture and Great Western Railway. The funding has now gone to commissioning an independent railway consultant who will look at the existing rail line and what can be done to improve the existing line as well as options to extend the service to Greater Bideford"" - see full story here.

1st April - Crediton Courier

"Enthusiasts vision for trains from the Torridge area through Crediton" headlines coverage of ITV's visit to Bideford for 60th anniversary of first Beeching report, to interview Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer with others in front of Railfuture-funded campaign banner.

30th March - Crediton Country Courier

"Enthusiasts vision for trains from the Torridge area through Crediton" headlines coverage of ITV's visit to Bideford for 60th anniversary of first Beeching report, to interview Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer with others at former Bideford station. Article mentions "Tarka Rail Association has been successful in securing funding from Railfuture ....."

29th March - BBC Radio Devon

Tim Steer of Tarka Rail Association is interviewed about his organisation's plans and gives Railfuture a mention. Listen here or download here for a 1-minute clip; listen here or download here for the full 32 minutes!

29th March - BBC Radio Oxford

Dr Beeching rears his ugly head again, and Thames Valley branch spokesman Dave Richardson appears on the breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

28th March - Rail Advent

The website picks up on our press release celebrating the more than 400 stations and 100 lines and links restored since the infamous Beeching report.

28th March - Oxford Mail

"Three new rail lines in a decade is unprecedented" headlines coverage of current Oxford developments informed by interview with Thames Valley branch spokesman Dave Richardson.

27th March - ITV regional news

On the 60th anniversary of the publication of the first Beeching report, ITV's regional news programmes feature four local Railfuture representatives talking about aspirations for reopenings in their area - Meridian (Thames Valley), Tyne Tees, West Country (South West) and West Country (West).

26th March - Liphook Herald

"Hope that new trains will improve Alton to London Waterloo service" is the title of the story based on comments by Railfuture's Wessex branch, looking forward to a better service when new Class 701 Arterio trains are introduced.

26th March - Devon Live

"North Devon needs back its lost rail links" - including a reference to Railfuture's support for the Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail project campaign.

23rd March - BBC Radio Bristol

Political leaders from South Wales and the West country have joined forces to push for improved rail services between the two regions. How realistic are these plans? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is invited on to the breakfast show to comment, and appears in news bulletins through the day. Listen here or download here.

18th March - Cambridge News

" An independent Cambridge initiative has sent an open letter to Cambridgeshire councils putting forward proposals for a light rail network in the city...Cambridge Connect, alongside Railfuture, have proposed an integrated light rail scheme that would serve Cambridge city and South Cambridgeshire."

16th March - RailBusinessDaily

"Railfuture’s Annual National Conference still coming to Leeds despite strikes" reads the headline, as the website gives a plug to the event happening on the 30th March.

10th March - GB News

HS2 is to be delayed further in a move to delay costs. The station interviews Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson.



8th March - Bedford Independent

The headline is: "MP accused of misleading residents on lack of progress on Bedford to Bletchley rail services".

Railfuture director Neil Middleton is quoted: “The buses are a very unsatisfactory alternative to the train, which provides (when it runs) an effective public transport service for those in the area who do not have access to a car. This current gap in the train service is yet another service interruption after many years of poor service, including during long periods after the start of Covid, due to shortages of train drivers. It’s easy to think ‘it’s a branch line, it doesn’t really matter’ – but that’s to forget that the people who use the service are often really reliant on the service to get them from A to B (for instance, in this case, Ridgmont to Bedford).”

7th March - BBC Radio Wales

The morning show phone-in samples the public's view on the performance of Wales's railway system. Whilst most callers are critical, Peter Kingsbury, chair of Railfuture Cymru/Wales takes a more positive tone. Listen here or download here.

5th March - Metro

There's much coverage of rail fare increases, and Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted in Metro and many other news outlets including the Evening Standard, Manchester Evening News , inews, Yahoo! and Sky.

He said: “I think very few people will be enjoying an income boost of 5.9% so the real impact is that it is taking a larger chunk out of people’s incomes.

“It’s going to deter people from travelling by train. Fortunately for some people they can work at home a bit, but there are some people who have no choice but to travel by train and go into work every day and they’re going to be worse off as a consequence of this.

“Year-on-year rail fares have gone up, the commuters generally speaking have had to grin and bear it and the Government has got away with making rail fares more and more expensive.

“I think we are starting to see, because of the working-from-home aspect, there is evidence that people are not buying season tickets anymore, they’re trying to cut down as much as they can, but for many people it will be a case of grin and bear it again.

“What can you do? If you have to get to work in order to make a living, and if you have no alternative, then you’ve got to grin and bear it and pay and find savings elsewhere in your life, but it’s not easy or pleasant.”

5th March - BBC One East

Phil Smart from Railfuture's East Anglia branch is interviewed on the Politics East programme about potentially relieving two rail bottlenecks in the area.




Two days later, Phil is pictured and quoted on the BBC News website.

5th March - LBC

Rail fares are going up by 5.9%. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the breakfast show to comment on the impact on passengers. Listen here or download here.

5th March - BBC News website

Railfuture appears on item on fare rise - "Whilst we understand the need for rail revenue to increase, a focus on extracting ever more money from current travellers seems to forget that persuading more to travel by train through better value and a more usable train service (frequent and reliable) has much more potential for reducing the gap between costs and income."

Railfuture gets a mention again on another BBC news web page:

"Another campaign group, Railfuture, said higher fares were likely to push more people to work from home and called for rail fares to be frozen, or even dropped, as fuel duty has been. "

4th March - The Courier

Railfuture's Scotland spokesperson Jane Ann Liston is featured in an article describing her 40-year campaign to get St Andrews back onto the rail network. The article notes: "Jane Ann’s decades of tireless campaigning means she was recently recognised with a Railfuture Campaigner of the Year award during a presentation in Holyrood."

19th February - Devon Live

Exciting plans to relink Bideford Tarka Line railway with rest of Devon runs the headline, before the full story The plan to link Bideford with the Tarka Line has support from parish councils along the tracks details the ceremonial unveiling and installation of a Railfuture-funded campaign banner at Crediton station (pictured).

16th February - Rail Business Daily

The web site plugs Railfuture's forthcoming conference: "Railfuture’s Annual National Conference comes to Leeds on Thursday 30 March 2023, with the needs of passengers and freight high on the agenda this year. Speakers will respond to the event’s headline, ‘Turning Point for the Railway’, discussing the importance of attracting more passenger and freight customers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic."

16th February - North Devon Journal

Campaigners confident over Bideford's rail bid says the headline above a photo of the installation ceremony for a Railfuture-funded campaign banner at Crediton station. Inside page 3 carries the full story.

9th February - BBC Radio Bristol

The government may extend its trial of abolishing return fares. Is this a good idea? Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the breakfast show and in news bulletins later in the day. Listen here or download here.

4th February - Crediton Courier

Campaign to connect north coast to Crediton - under a photo of two Tarka Rail Association members, including ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer, holding up a banner bearing Railfuture's logo: "The banners were made possible by funding from Railfuture which has 12 branches in England plus Wales and Scotland involved in local issues, which come together to support Railfuture on national campaigns. Railfuture is campaigning for a bigger and better railway in Britain. There is a Devon and Cornwall branch."

31st January - Fife Today

Campaigner of the Year Award - "Railfuture, which campaigns for better railways held its awards in the Parliament. Jane Ann Liston was named Campaigner of the Year for her work on the St Andrews Rail Link campaign as well as her efforts for other enhancements to rail services in Scotland."

26th January - The Times

In a full-page obituary for Adrian Shooter CBE: "He was ... vice-president of Railfuture, together with Andrew Adonis, the former Labour transport secretary and Chris Green, the former British Rail head of InterCity and Network SouthEast."

23rd January - LBC

Train reliability has reached an all time low with many services being cancelled. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson offers his views on the causes of this. Listen here or download here.

12th January - Cllr Zoe Nicholson - Lewes DC

In her online Q&A the Leader responded to a written question from Railfuture about progress with the new Local Plan - watch from 01:55 > 02:54.

7th January - Tarka Rail Association

A new Station News poster to be displayed in all 12 Tarka Line station noticeboards mentions Railfuture's recent RUG Awards to the TRA for its newsletter (Commendation) and ACE Rail campaign (Gold Award for Best New Group) with group photo including TRA committee member and ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer sporting the framed certificate for the Gold Award.

3rd January - LBC

The government claims that rail strikes risk losing a whole generation of rail travellers.
Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson appears on the drive time programme to discuss. Listen here or download here.

He also is interviewed on this topic by Times Radio. Listen here or download here.


2022


26th December - Crediton Courier

Support for Tarka Line extension grows since Crediton council’s backing. Railfuture logo visible in new banner, ACE Rail campaign's affiliation to Railfuture mentioned.

23rd December - GB News

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is interviewed about the government announcement of rail fare increases of 5.9% in March.

22nd December - Lynton, Lynmouth and Exmoor Advertiser

A Railway for Bideford - article by Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer with Railfuture's Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake.

15th December - Atlantic Coast Express

Proposed Bideford-Barnstaple and Exeter railway gets £6,500 boost reports the Winter 2022 issue of the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre's magazine, in an article co-authored by Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail project lead Tim Steer and Railfuture's Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake.

9th December - Mark Hopwood CBE on LinkedIn from Barnstaple station

The Managing Director at Great Western Railway meets the Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail team and is the first to see the new campaign banner, including the logo of Railfuture as a project partner.

9th December - BBC Radio Shropshire

West Midlands Railway is introducing a new reduced timetable between Birmingham and Shrewsbury. Colin Major from West Midlands branch appears on the breakfast show to offer his thoughts. Listen here or download here.

30th November - RAIL magazine

Brief reference to Railfuture contribution to Initial Business Case for extension of Tarka Line from Barnstaple.

30th November - Community Rail News

Friends of Glossop Station dedicate memorial plaque to Paul Abell, a former Vice-President of Railfuture which part-funded it.

15th November - BBC News

In "Portishead to Bristol rail line gets final approval:" Rail users lobby group Railfuture Severnside said it was "delighted" with the news and praised the contributions made by local MPs and councillors.

1st November - West Highland News

Autumn / Winter 2022 edition of Friends of the West Highland Lines newsletter publicises Railfuture's RUG Awards, with gold award for Best Website going to FoWHL.

27th October - Modern Railways - November

Bideford campaign progress - joint letter from Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail campaign lead Tim Steer and Railfuture's Director for Infrastructure & Networks, Roger Blake.

19th October - Devon Live

We’re grateful, too, for the guidance and support with strategic advice over the past 18 months from independent national rail development campaign Railfuture, which has also contributed financially. - Mike Day, Chairman of Tarka Rail Association, commenting on GWR's Community Fund contribution to an Initial Business Case for the Atlantic Coast Exeter Railway which was announced by ACE Rail campaign lead Tim Steer during a presentation he made about the project to Barnstaple Town Council. Article includes photos of Railfuture's Gold RUG Award for Best New Group at Barnstaple station and Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake at Bideford's former station.

18th October - The Voice

Barnstaple's local radio station interviews the Railfuture-affiliated ACE Rail campaign lead Tim Steer, mentioning Railfuture's Gold Award for Best New Group 4 minutes into a 10-minute interview.

18th October - RAIL magazine

The magazine reports on the Conservative party conference and a fringe meeting organised by West Midlands branch on the topic of Great British Railways. "And issues with decision-making by the GBR transition team led to concerns raised by Neil Middleton, from Rail Future, (sic) who said: ”There aren’t enough people in Great British Railways making decisions and actioning things,” and suggested that senior people need to come out of train operating companies and join GBR to help with the decision-making process."

14th October - Crediton Courier

Coverage of Great Western Railway press release of 10th October, including reference to Railfuture support from Mike Day, Chairman of Tarka Rail Association.

13th October - North Devon Journal

Coverage of Great Western Railway press release of 10th October, including reference to Railfuture support from Mike Day, Chairman of Tarka Rail Association.

11th October - The Voice

Tarka Rail Association's Railfuture-affiliated ACE Rail campaign lead Tim Steer is interviewed on local radio.

11th October - RailUK and Rail Advent

Carry GWR press release including mention of Railfuture.

10th October - Great Western Railway

“We’re grateful, too, for the guidance and support with strategic advice over the past 18 months from independent national rail development campaign Railfuture, which has also contributed financially." - Tarka Rail Association Mike Day, commenting on GWR's contribution towards funding an Initial Business Case for Bideford-Barnstaple-Exeter.

29th September - BBC Radio Kent

Southeastern is introducing a new timetable in response to changes in work/life habits following the pandemic. Railfuture's Chris Fribbins is interviewed on the breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

26th September - South Wales Argus

The headline reads "Railfuture's support for MAGOR rail campaign" going on to say"Industry recognition for a community group could provide a significant boost for its hopes of seeing a new mainline rail station developed."

Magor Action Group on Rail wants to open a railway station to serve Magor with Undy. and won a commendation in the best campaign category at Railfuture's Rail User Group Awards, as well as a commendation in the best website category.

22nd September - Modern Railways - October

SENRUG scoops four Railfuture Awards for Rail User Groups.

22nd September - Oxford Mail

The paper picks up on our press release calling on the Transport Secretary not to scrap the eastern section of East West rail. Dave Richardson, spokesman for Railfuture’s Thames Valley branch, is quoted:

“Trains from Oxford to Cambridge have not run since 1968, meaning a long detour via London if you want to travel between these two great university cities by rail. Bus links are inadequate and it is vital to have better rail services if we are to hit our carbon reduction targets. East West Rail promised to reconnect the Varsity Line, which would benefit not only travellers between Oxford and Cambridge, but make possible direct trains from Oxford to places such as Leicester, Nottingham, Peterborough and points north. But that is now at risk.”

21st September - talkRADIO

There's been massive disruption to services with overhead line problems. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is interviewed by Mike Graham. Listen here or download here.

14th September - Daily Record

An online petition is calling for the reopening of two stations in Ayshire. Railfuture gets a mention: “Thinktank Railfuture Scotland has included the two towns on a list of 50 stations across Scotland the group believes should be opened or reopened on existing lines in a bid to attract the public back on trains as the nation wants to shift away from carbon-emitting cars.”

14th September - Metro

A football fan found it cheaper to spend £33 on a flight via Dublin than the £389 rail fare to travel from London to Barrow in Furness. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted: "It’s absolute madness that people are priced off one of the most environmentally friendly forms of transport and onto one of the most polluting, They need to follow the German example and offer attractive fares to entice travellers back onto the railways, not price them onto aeroplanes."

2nd September - LBC News

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is invited onto the breakfast show to talk about the latest round of rail strikes. Listen here or download here.

1st September - Rail Business Daily

Railfuture director and RUG Awards organiser (and LinkedIn subscriber!) Roger Blake is mentioned in further publicity for SENRUG and Railfuture's RUG Awards. The story is also covered in the Northumberland Gazette.

1st September - ITV News website

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted in an article debating whether it's cheaper to commute or work from home:

"The cost-of-living crisis is bringing home how unreasonable rail fares are. The fares are always above inflation and become progressively more expensive in real terms and are making it progressively less affordable for most people to commute.So, when other prices crunch it is not surprising that people will try and save money in any way they can. It looks like the government has finally succeeded in pricing people off rail."

31st August - Rail Business Daily

Railfuture-affiliated South East Northumberland Rail User Group announce local presentations to winners of two of their four awards from July's national RUG Awards.

18th August - Talk TV

Railfuture chair Chris Page is interviewed on the breakfast show about the current rail strikes. Watch here.

17th August - Telegraph

The paper considers the cost of season tickets with an RPI-based fare increase. Railfuture spokesman Bruce WIlliamson is quoted: “Any rise to ticket prices should be capped at the rate of CPI. Using the RPI is obsolete and it’s long overdue that it’s consigned to the history books.”

17th August - Daily Mail

The Mail and many other papers pick up on our press release regarding inflation and fare rises. Railfuture chair Chris Page is quoted:

'The Government claims that the fare rise will be below inflation, but the devil will be in the detail. They won't say what the increase will be, or which fares it will apply to. If the Government was serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis it would make rail travel much more affordable and make it easier for people to use cars and planes less. Germany has shown the way with its nine euro (£7.58) travelcard offer. It proves that if the price is right, people will flock to the trains.'

12th August - GB News

Railfuture chair Chris Page is interviewed on the breakfast show about the current rail strikes.

8th August - Chard and Ilminster News

"Everything you need to know about plans for new Chard Parkway railway station" includes reference to "how the campaign group RailFuture (sic) can be more closely involved in the push for the new station." and “He (Jonathan Roberts) is a long-standing adviser to RailFuture, (sic) a leading independent organisation which campaigns for an improved railway network to underpin economic growth, environmental safeguards and the well-being of communities. “They promote effective rail freight capacity as well as improvements to principal passenger rail corridors and rail restoration schemes.”

26th July - Crediton Courier

Crediton Town Council backs bid to extend Tarka Line to Bideford - report of the 19th July presentation to Crediton Town Council, including mention of Railfuture in photo of Infrastructure Director Roger Blake with other speakers.

25th July - The Devon Belle

The Summer issue of Railfuture-affiliated Combe Rail's newsletter includes a picture of national Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake at Bideford Railway Heritage Centre on 20th April when Devon CC's Andrea Davis visited to talk about the ACE Rail campaign to restore a rail link to Exeter via Barnstaple.

21st July - Ely Standard

The headline reads: "Fen Line Users Association wins two Railfuture awards"

20th July - Lynn News

The headline is "King’s Lynn to Cambridge train Fen Line Users Association wins Railfuture awards" in a story reporting that the King’s Lynn to Cambridge train Fen Line Users Association has won a Railfuture award.

18th July - Way of the Wharves

The July newsletter of the Way of the Wharves Project in Bideford, Devon, includes reference to Railfuture in an item about the Tarka Rail Association's ACE Rail campaign, taken from July's Rail User Express.

16th July - OkeRail news

OkeRail report their Judges' Special Award win, received after Railfuture's national AGM in Bristol.

21st June - Daily Express

News article on rail strikes is followed by 'Comment by Chris Page', the Chair of Railfuture. Neil Middleton and Stewart Palmer were also interviewed on Sky News.

23rd May - The Voice

The radio station for North Devon interviews Tim Steer from Bideford Heritage Railway Centre about expansion plans, including the help he has received from Railfuture. Listen here or download here.

16th May - BBC News website

The government is considering alternatives to the HS2 eastern leg, including a link to the ECML via Nottingham and Newark. Lincolnshire branch chair David Harby is quoted as saying that the Newark option would give the government almost everything it wanted.

"It would also be the cheapest option but there would be compromises - of course, it wouldn't serve Sheffield," he said.

11th May - BBC Radio Leeds

The queen's speech includes a new transport bill to establish Great British Railways. What will this mean for passengers? Yorkshire branch chair Nina Smith is interviewed on the breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

29th April - My London

Forget more London Underground stations, what South London really needs is Thameslink 2 linking Croydon, Lewisham, Canary Wharf and Stratford headlines the author, with the comment It's not just me who sees sense. Railfuture, the UK's largest independent campaign group for improving rail services, has put this proposal at the top of its campaigns in London and the South East.

27th April - Huddersfield Examiner

The headline is: Four major changes needed to transform Yorkshire's 'desperate' railways, according to an expert - that expert being Yorkshire Branch vice-chair and national Director Mike Rose, who sets out Railfuture's priorities for improving rail transport in Yorkshire.

27th April - The Planner

Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake has an article in the house magazine of the Royal Town Planning Institute for May, citing five examples of Railfuture getting on with supporting the delivery of #RailTransportForNewHomes.

27th April - Devon Live

Reopening of Bideford to Barnstaple railway 'transformational for North Devon - Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake is among a group at the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre to brief Devon County Council's Andrea Davis, also Chair of Peninsula Transport, about the ACE Rail campaign to reconnect Bideford to the mainline rail network at Barnstaple for through services to Exeter.

19th April - The Great British Rail Sale

The government has announced a sale of one million half price off-peak tickets. Railfuture is in demand for comment, and national spokesman Bruce WIlliamson is interviewed on talkRADIO, Yorkshire branch chair Nina Smith appears on BBC Radio York, East Anglia branch vice-chair Chris Burton appears on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Dave Richardson of Thames Valley branch is interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire.

18th April - Daily Record

The paper reports that Network Rail is paying compensation to train operating companies for engineering works, but that passengers are not entitled to any compensation. Railfuture spokesman Bruce WIlliamson is quoted: “Passengers whose journeys are lengthened by engineering works would naturally think that some of the money should go to them.”

11th April - Dunfermline Press

"Influential think tank Railfuture Scotland" is the subject of this article, which highlights Railfuture's plans for new stations in Scotland. Spokesperson Jane Ann Liston is quoted: "These stations are considered necessary to provide an attractive and environmentally-friendly alternative to road vehicles. Each of the locations has some specific feature as to why it needs a station, such as an attraction which brings in many people, a major employer, or simply a large number of residents who need to travel. These stations would open up more of the country to non-road travel. "

1st April - BBC Radio Scotland

Scotrail is now back in the public sector. Railfuture Scotland's Jane Ann Liston appears on Good Morning Scotland alongside rail journalist Philip Haigh to discuss what changes passengers will notice. Listen here or download here.

30th March - BBC Radio Bristol

The Belmond British Pullman visited Bath Spa station, and Railfuture goes a little bit rail past, as spokesman Bruce Williamson talks about the Orient Express, heritage railways and sleeper trains. Listen here or download here.

27th March - The Herald

"Influential think tank Railfuture Scotland has mapped out the list of 51 stations to be opened or re-opened" says the paper, reporting on Railfuture proposals first published eight years ago, but putting a contemporary spin by adding "...in a bid to attract the public back on trains.as Covid restrictions are lifted".

26th March - BBC Radio York

Yorkshire branch chair Nina Smith appears on the drive time show to talk about cuts to Northern services. Listen here or download here.

1st March - More fare rise coverage

Railfuture spokesman Bruce WIlliamson is interviewed on BBC Radio Suffolk and is quoted on the BBC news website. Many papers and websites quote our tweet "Ordinary working people are feeling the squeeze like never before, yet the government is stoking the fire of the cost of living crisis with these eye-watering fare increases".

Railfuture is also quoted in the Mirror, Express and on the Yahoo! news website, as well as appearing on BBC One's lunchtime news for the South East:



28th February - Fare rises

Many media outlets including The Guardian, Daily Mail, Metro and Sky News pick up on our press release, with hundreds of newspapers publishing an article under the headline "Train passengers to be hit with largest spike in fares since 2013". The Salisbury Journal is typical, picking up our soundbite of "stoking the fire of the cost of living crisis" and further quoting Railfutrue spokesman Bruce Williamson:

"Ordinary working people are feeling the squeeze like never before, yet the Government is stoking the fire of the cost of living crisis with these eye-watering fare increases. How does this help get the country back to work?"

Railfuture also gets a mention in the independent and the London Evening Standard.

27th February - Mail on Sunday

The paper reports on a package of engineering works over the Easter holiday. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted: ‘More people will return to the railways after Covid and it is inevitable some will be inconvenienced by works. A significant package of Easter works is scheduled.’

24th February - Tarka Rail Association

Destination Bideford is a 3-page feature in Tarka Rail Association's Spring 2022 magazine, with positive references to Railfuture and its Director for Infrastructure & Networks Roger Blake.

23rd February - Bridport & Lyme Regis News

Under the headline "Railfuture sceptical over South Western Railway rankings", the paper reports on Wessex branch's doubts over a recent passenger satisfaction survey which gave South Western Railway an overall satisfaction of 88%.

A spokesperson for Railfuture Wessex is quoted: “Passenger numbers have been well below normal during the winter months, and we question whether the satisfaction survey gives a true picture when so many have been put off travelling. It will be interesting to see how the railway copes during the busier summer period, when a lot more people will be making the choice to go by rail, and expectations of comfort and reliability will be somewhat higher. We fear that some may experience longer journey times and perhaps overcrowding unless the service is restored to something nearer pre-Covid levels.”

11th February - Ipswich Star

Railfuture is calling for more emphasis to be given to links between Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester, Cambridge and Peterborough, rather than just on lines to London. East Anglia branch vice chair Peter Wakefield is quoted:

"London will still be an important destination but Railfuture thinks it is time for railway planners to initiate a gradual shift from being totally London orientated to more 'big five. All these urban centres have their own severe traffic problems with radial roads congested, producing poor and often dangerous public health outcomes."

This story also appears in the East Anglian Daily Times.

8th February - Witney Oxford Transport Group

WOTG Chair goes online to thank everyone including Railfuture's Infrastructure & Networks Director Roger Blake for making possible Oxfordshire County Council's Budget decision to allocate £250k for Undertaking a strategic rail feasibility study to establish what it would take to advance the proposals for new rail links to Cowley, Grove/Wantage, and Witney/Carterton, and the installation of double track on single track stretches of the North Cotswold Line.

5th February - Liverpool Echo

The paper aims to investigate why British trains are so expensive and what can be done about it. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is extensively quoted, saying, amongst other things: "You can have these cheap bargains, but for many people, they're just not practical or attractive. What we all want to do is get on the train when we want to get on the train and not have to plan weeks in advance and just, you know, buy a ticket, get a seat and not get ripped off for it."

1st February - talkRADIO

After Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted in The Sun on 31st January, he's interviewed on talkRADIO about signallers apparently asleep on the job. Perhaps taking forty winks isn't such a bad thing? Listen here or download here.

1st February - BBC Radio Surrey

With passenger numbers still well below pre-pandemic levels, what does the industry have to do to make rail travel an attractive proposition? Railfuture director Stewart Palmer is interviewed on the breakfast show. Listen here or download here.

31st January - The Sun

Signalling workers at London Victoria have been photographed asleep on duty in the middle of the night. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted: “This is very serious and a real concern. It’s a very important job. These staff are there to make sure everything goes smoothly and that if the ­technology is not working, then there is a back-up.”

27th January - inews

In an article entitled "Greggs bacon rolls and mindfulness apps offered to train commuters in a bid to lure them back onto the railway", Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is quoted:

“Any sweetener, I suppose, is nice but what we really need to address are the fundamentals which are the soaring cost of tickets and the quality of the service. If they want to attract commuters back to the railways we need reliable service for people to use. What is important is the quality of the product not the wrapping.”

27th January - Modern Railways - February

Railfuture director Roger Blake has a joint letter Back the Bideford bid in the February issue, co-signed with Cllr Tim Steer (Director of Bideford Railway Heritage Centre) leading the ACE Rail campaign, and Kevin Ball (OkeRail Executive).

23rd January - BBC One South

Railfuture director Stewart Palmer appears on the Politics South TV programme to criticise South Western Railway's level of service.



21st January - inews

The i contrasts the return to work with worsening rail services and imminent fare rises. Grant Shapps has promised to reduce the amount of annoying Tannoy announcements.

"RailFuture, an independent passenger group, poured scorn on to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ announcement to do away with repetitive Tannoy announcements on trains – calling it “scraping the barrel in trying to find some good news”."......

"RailWatch (Railfuture) spokesman Bruce Williamson said that if the Government wants to entice hybrid workers and people who have started relying on their cars during the pandemic back onto the trains, it is “really important” that firms offer an “attractive service”.

Mr Williams (Williamson) described the discounts offered by the newly introduced “flexi season tickets”, which give users eight days of travel within a 28-day period, as “parsimonious”, and said such schemes should be “a lot more generous”."


19th January - Hampshire Chronicle

The paper writes an article based on our press release. The article reads " A MAJOR rail operator has been slammed for reaching a "new low point" after introducing a reduced timetable. South Western Railway is now running fewer trains in Hampshire. It claims that its workforce has been slashed by Covid, with staff either testing positive or having to self isolate. But Railfuture, a national not-for-profit company campaigning for a bigger and better railway in Britain, called the decision a new low point ", before quoting Railfuture director Stewart Palmer.

A similar story appears in the Bournemouth Echo.

7th January - RUG Awards in Tarka Rail Association's "Station News"

Railfuture's Award and Commendation for two Devon organisations, after last year's national AGM in Bristol, mentioned in the 7th edition of the TRA's twice-yearly poster which is displayed in their noticeboards at all 12 Tarka Line stations.

2nd January - LBC

Covid is causing staff shortages in many industries, including the railways. Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson is interviewed on Sky News, and a clip of that interview then appears in LBC's news bulletins. Listen here or download here.



Click HERE for previous examples of Railfuture in the media.

Media - For more information please contact:
Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954
Mobile: 07759 557389
Email: media at railfuture.org.uk

Apply to join Railfuture now - click HERE.