Railfuture now holds one major national conference each year, in late summer/early 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. We also produce free-to-attend Webinars.
Speakers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some of the organisations who have spoken at conferences and webinars include Anglia Railways, Arriva Cross Country, Arriva Trains Wales, Association of Train Operating Companies, Cardiff International Airport, Centro, Chester-le-Track, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry Trains, 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 British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT), Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Green Signals, Heathrow Southern Railway, Hitachi Rail Europe, HS2, Independent Rail Retailers, 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, Rail Delivery Group, RSSB, ScotRail Alliance, SLC Rail, Southeastern, South West Trains, Thameslink and Great Northern, Transpennine Express, TramPower, Transport for Wales Rail, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, UK Rail Leasing, Virgin Trains, Virgin Trains East Coast, Vivarail and West Midlands Trains.
Click HERE to see a list events and speakers for each organisation.
To follow Railfuture's conferences and webinars on Twitter use the hash-tag shown against the event.
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
2025/Peterborough - RAILFUTURE REGIONAL MINI-CONFERENCE [link]
- Thu 15/05/2025 Mini-Conference for East Anglia, East Midlands and Lincolnshire
- 19 days until conference
- This is a FREE event but please register in advance (see 'Eventbrite' link below)
- Jerry Alderson, Railfuture director and organiser of this mini-conference said:
"This mini-conference will be in three parts: a) railway infrastucture improvements, b) passenger services in the future and c) celebrating Rail 200.
"Our event is being held in Peterborough, which is where the East Anglia, East Midlands and Lincolnshire branches meet. However, it is open to everyone, not just Railfuture members.
"Our first speaker, from Peterborough City Council, will explain how the area around Peterborough station is to be improved to make it more pleasurable, and the creation of a western entrance to reduce travel time to the station.
"Our second speaker, from the Great Central Railway, will talk about the most exciting, ambitious and expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken by any heritage railway in Britain.
"We then look at independent train services and retailing, considering how they will co-exist with Great British Railways, with two experienced senior members of the rail industry.
"After a break, we finish with a 45-minute video presentation using from the British Transport Films archives to celebrate Rail 200.
"Doors open at noon, giving a chance to talk informally to the speakers, over refreshments and a light buffet, before the presentations begin. We look forward to seeing you. Please book in advance to ensure your place." - Hosted by Railfuture East Anglia branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Doors open at 12:00, when refreshments and a small buffet lunch will be available (donation of £5 will be requested). Presentations start at 13:00 and end at 16:30
- Speakers:
- Anthony Smith, Chair, Independent Rail Retailers
(talking about: How third-part retailers can complement Great British Railway's ticket selling) - Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director, Open Access, Tram & Cable (First Rail), First Group (talking about: Open-access operators in the GBR era)
- Tom Ingall
, TV Broadcaster who volunteers at the GCR, Great Central Railway
(talking about: Major project to reunify the two halves of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough)
- Building the 500-metre connection between the two heritage railways is the largest project ever attempted by any heritage railway
- Ingrid Hooley, Service Director, Growth & Regeneration, Peterborough City Council (talking about: Peterborough station quarter redevelopment)
- Barry Coward (talking about: Showing a 45-minute video to celebarate Rail 200)
- Barry will be touring Britain in 2025 to talk about Rail 200 - a short profile of him can be viewed on YouTube
- Unfortunately, Stef Foster of Green Signals is no longer able to attend, because of another engagement; our replacement speaker is BBC Broadcaster, Tom Ingall, see above
- Venue: Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery
- Room: Howe Room
- Priestgate, Peterborough
- Postcode: PE1 1LF
- Phone: (01733) 8646630
- Email: museum at peterboroughlimited.co.uk
- Venue location 'vest.spaces.posed' on map using 'what3words': https://what3words.com/vest.spaces.posed
- Enquiries about the conference: please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
- Places for this conference are still available. Please book by Wed 14/05/2025
- Click
to book your place using
2025/Newcastle (AGM) [link]
- Sat 05/07/2025 20th Railfuture Ltd AGM
- 70 days until AGM
- Hosted by Railfuture North East branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Registration from 10:00 with refreshments from 10:30. AGM starts at 11:00. Afternoon session from 13:30 (open to all) - speakers are still being sought. Close at 15:30
- Speakers:
- Simon Walton (talking about: tbc - but he often writes about rail freight)
- Only one speaker is currently confirmed - other speakers are being sought
- Venue: Great North Museum: Hancock [map]
- Room: Exhibition Hall 2
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Postcode: NE2 4PT
- Phone: (0191) 208 6765
- Email: info at greatnorthmuseum.org.uk
- The museum is free to enter, but the exhibitons are only open from 10:00 to 16:00 on a Saturday
- Venue location 'return.juror.lobby' on map using 'what3words': https://what3words.com/return.juror.lobby
- Route: The museum venue is an eight-minute walk from the Haymarket Metro station (via Northumberland Street, Barras Bridge and Claremont Road) ir a 25-minute walk from Newcastle station (via Grainger Street, Blackett Street, Brunswick Street and the Northumberland Street, with the same route from Haymarket Metro). See '[map]' link above for other transport information
- Enquiries 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.
- All paperwork was completed on Thu 27/02/2025. It is now too late to include anything for the AGM in the standard mailing with Railwatch.
- Proxy voting and registering your attendance is now open (click HERE to do so online) and paper forms must be received by the Membership Renewals officer, Lloyd Butler (see details on AGM notice) by Thu 03/07/2025
- Motions must be received by the Railfuture Ltd Chair, Chris Page (see details on AGM notice) by Sat 21/06/2025
- 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 (by Mon 16/06/2025) [book].
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
- Lunch Prices for Newcastle AGM: [book]
- £14.00 - Standard Lunch
Book Your AGM Lunch Now
(MEDIA: For a free 'press pass' please contact Bruce Williamson by e-mailing media at railfuture.org.uk or phone on 07759 557389).
Please mention any additional requirements or information by email (see 'enquiries' above) after receiving your booking acknowledgement.
Terms and Conditions
Before booking please make sure that you have read the Railfuture conference terms and conditions (PDF format).
Selected past event
2013/Taunton [link]
- Sat 22/06/2013 Vision and Reality - Can we have both?
- Hosted by Railfuture Severnside branch
- It was held at Albemarle Centre, Albemarle Road TA1 1BA
- Railfuture is grateful for sponsorship from First Great Western
- John Chapman, Director, Kilbride Group (talked about: Return to Tavistock [Community Rail Reopening])
- John Dora, John Dora Consulting (former Network Rail engineer) (talked about: Railways, Weather and Climate Change Research)
- Alan Matthews, Chairman, Portishead Railway Group (talked about: Campaigning to reopen a long-closed line)
- Dean Cockwell, Project Manager, New Somerset and Dorset Railway (talked about: Rail reopening campaign with a long-term aim)
- Bernard Lane, Chairman, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (talked about: Campaigning for an effective City Rail Network)
- John Burch, Chairman, Tarka Rail Association (talked about: The Problem that is Cowley Bridge Junction)
- Steve Smith, Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group (talked about: Wisdom of Electrification to a Non-Terminus)
- Chris Fribbins and Chris Page, Railfuture Directors (talked about: Network Rail's Long-Term Planning Process)
CONFERENCE MATERIALS:
Nothing is available
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS (AND THEIR PRESENTATIONS):
Past events for each year
Up to three national events are held each year. Click on the location to see the details.
There are 12 events above where we do not know the date it was held. Can you help us fill in the dates? Email: info at railfuture.org.uk
The events without dates are: 2001/Poole, 1995/London, 1994/Clitheroe, 1994/Lincoln, 1993/Maesteg, 1990/Manchester, 1989/London, 1988/Leicester, 1985/London, 1983/London, 1983/Crewe, 1981/London.
Click HERE to see a full list of past events. Looking for something else? Check the LIBRARY