Railfuture Conferences
Railfuture holds two national conferences each year, usually in the summer and autumn (in addition to its AGM for members). We aim only to cover our costs. The conferences are competitively priced, to be within rail users' price range, and are open to everyone. Railfuture members are usually offered a chance to attend at a discounted rate.
Speakers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some of the organisations who have spoken at conferences include Anglia Railways, Arriva Cross Country, Arriva Trains Wales, Association of Train Operating Companies, Cardiff International Airport, Centro, Chester-le-Track, Chiltern Railways, Delta Rail, East Coast, East Midlands Trains, East West Rail Consortium, Eurostar, First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First Transpennine Express, Furrer + Frey GB, Grand Central, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Heathrow Southern Railway, Hitachi Rail Europe, HS2, London Midland, London Overground Railway Operations, Merseytravel, MyTestTrack.com, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Northern (Arriva Rail North), Nottingham Express Transit, Parry People Movers, Port Of Sunderland, ScotRail Alliance, SLC Rail, South West Trains, Thameslink and Great Northern, Transpennine Express, TramPower, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, UK Rail Leasing, Virgin Trains, Virgin Trains East Coast and Vivarail.
Click HERE to see a list events and speakers for each organisation.
To follow Railfuture's conferences on Twitter use the hash-tag shown against the conference.
Note: this hash-tag is not exclusive to Railfuture.
Future Events
Click HERE For a list of rail-related events including free-to-attend Railfuture branch meetings
2019/Cardiff (AGM) [link]
- Sat 18/05/2019 15th Railfuture Ltd AGM
- Hosted by Railfuture Cymru/Wales branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Registration from 10:00, AGM from 11:00, presentation of Railfuture Campaigner of the Year Award followed by lunch. Afternoon session TBC. Close at 15:00
- Venue: The Sport Wales National Centre [map] [bus information] [useful info]
- Room: Bute Suite
- Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
- Postcode: CF11 9SW
- Phone: 0300 300 3111
- Email: nationalcentre at sport.wales
- Route: It is located on the edge of Cardiff city centre, 15 to 20 minutes' level walk from Cardiff Central Station. Cardiff Bus services 25 and 63 operate from a city centre stop in Westgate street, 5 mins walk from the exit of Cardiff Central to a stop in Cathedral Road, 2 mins walk from the Sports Wales building. Both operate at a 20 mins frequency so a combined service of 6 buses per hour.
- Additional info: The venue offers B&B, which is currently £36 per person per night but will be reviewed also on 01/04/2019. Bookings will need to be made directly with Denise Nicholas - Assistant Customer Services Manager on denise.nicholas@sport.wales
- For further details about the AGM please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
- The AGM is open to all current members or their proxy - there is no fee to attend.
- The deadline for completing AGM paperwork to go in the standard mailing with Railwatch is Thu 28/02/2019. (This is the date when files go to the printer.)
- Proxy votes can be registered between Sat 09/03/2019 and Thu 16/05/2019
- Motions must be received by the Company Secretary by Sat 04/05/2019
- Information about how Railfuture is run, including a copy of the Articles of Association, can be found at Railfuture+organisation.
- Refreshments are complimentary. Lunch, if required, must be purchased in advance [book].
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
- Lunch Prices for Cardiff AGM: [book]
- £10.00 - Standard Lunch
2019/Darlington [link]
- Sat 22/06/2019 Rebirth of the Railway [Why Attend?]
- Ian Walker, secretary of Railfuture North East branch says:
"The emphasis at this conference will be on new developments occurring in the industry - and what better place to locate the event than Darlington where railway history truly began?
"As shown below, key inputs will come from representatives of Hitachi Rail Europe, Tyne and Wear Metro, the Port of Sunderland, Esk Valley Rail Development Company and from the elected Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchin.
"The venue is centrally located in Darlington less than 10 minutes' walk from the Railway Station.
"Darlington itself is easily accessible being on the ECML and is served by regular services from Scotland, London Birmingham & Manchester and all points in between.
"We look forward to your attendance at this event. Let's make it another great Railfuture Summer Conference!" - Hosted by Railfuture North East branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Speakers:
- Philip Meikle, Transport Strategy Director, Nexus
- Matthew Hunt, Port Director, Port Of Sunderland
- Representative from Hitachi Rail Europe
- Ben Houchen, Elected Mayor, Tees Valley
- Alan Williams, Chairman, Esk Valley Railway Development Company
- The above is the full list of speakers. The name of Hitachi Rail Europe speaker is not confirmed yet
- Venue: Dolphin Centre
- Room: Central Hall (2nd floor)
- Horsemarket, Darlington
- Postcode: DL1 5RP
- Phone: 01325 406000
- The room is accessible via both stairs amd lift from the enterance foyer. There are accessible toilets on the 2nd floor as well as toilets on 1st and ground floors
- Route: Exit the station on to Victoria Road, at the roundabout turn right onto Feethams. You will see signs to the Town Hall. The Dolphin Centre is opposite. (Approx. 10-15 minute walk)
- For further details about the conference please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
- Places are still free to book - but bookings for this conference will close on Thu 20/06/2019
- The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only is still open but will end on Tue 30/04/2019.
- Prices for Darlington: [book]
- £12.50 - Early bird (members only)
- £15.00 - Members after 30th April
- £15.00 - Non-members
- £10.00 - 16-25 Railcard Holder
- Includes: Complimentary refreshments available throughout the day and a buffet lunch

Photo above shows: Images of railways in the north east (by Dave Shaw). Click image to see in full size
2019/Bristol [link]
- Sat 21/09/2019 Every Passenger Matters
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Venue: St Michael's Church Centre
- Room: Large Meeting Room
- The Green, Stoke Gifford, Bristol
- Postcode: BS34 8PD
- Phone: 0117 969 2486
- Route: It is just three minutes' walk from Bristol Parkway Station
- For further details about the conference please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
- Sorry but bookings are not being taken yet - please re-visit this web-site later.
- The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only will end on Wed 31/07/2019.
Book Your Conference Place/AGM Lunch Now
You do not have to be a member to attend a conference, but you can save money if you are. To become a member click
[HERE] to book the next conference and join Railfuture at the same time - you'll get a special discount
If bookings for the next conference have closed this will be for the conference after that.
(MEDIA: For a free 'press pass' please contact Bruce Williamson by e-mailing media at railfuture.org.uk or phone on 07759 557389).
Terms and Conditions
Before booking please make sure that you have read the Railfuture conference terms and conditions (PDF format).
Selected past event
1998/Shrewsbury [link]
- Sat 02/05/1998
- It was held at Gateway Centre
- David Weir, Managing Director, Wales and West Railway
- Members were welcomed by the Mayor, Councillor Peter Dunham
Past events for each year
Up to three national events are held each year. Click on the location to see the details.
Click HERE to see a full list of past events. Looking for something else? Check the LIBRARY
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Annual Rates: £18 adults, £14 concessions |
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Page last changed on 11th February 2019.