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Railfuture Conferences and Webinars

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
    • 88 days until conference
  • This is a FREE event but please register in advance (see 'Eventbrite' link below)
  • 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 Twitter Image LinkedInImage (talking about: How third-part retailers can complement Great British Railway's ticket selling)
    • Stef Foster, General Manager, Green Signals Twitter Image LinkedInImage (talking about: How the Green Signals podcast has become such a huge success)
    • 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
    • More speakers are being sought - a total of five.
  • Venue: Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery
  • 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 Eventbrite Icon to book your place using Eventbrite Icon

2025/Newcastle (AGM) [link]

  • Sat 05/07/2025 20th Railfuture Ltd AGM
    • 139 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
  • Venue: Great North Museum: Hancock [map] Twitter Image Facebook Image
    • 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
    • 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.
    • The deadline for completing AGM paperwork to go in the standard mailing with Railwatch is Thu 27/02/2025. (This is the date when files go to the printer.)
    • Proxy votes and your attendance can be registered between Sat 15/03/2025 and 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

Conference Fees (1 option)

(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

2016/Birmingham [link]

  • Sat 12/11/2016 Heart of the railway - how West Midlands will lead the way to the future
  • Plus presentation of 2016 Rail User Group Awards

  • Reason for Birmingham: Completion of Birmingham New Street modernisation and Midland Metro extensions
  • Hosted by Railfuture West Midlands branch
  • It was held at The Priory Rooms
  • CONFERENCE MATERIALS:

  • Further Info: Click [Download] or [Display] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
  • CONFERENCE SPEAKERS (AND THEIR PRESENTATIONS):

  • Toby Rackcliff, Rail Policy and Strategy Manager, West Midlands Combined Authority (talked about: Driving Improvement in the next West Midlands Franchise)
  • Maria Machancoses, Programme Director, Midlands Connect Twitter Image (talked about: Powering the Midlands Engine)
  • Lord Berkeley, Chairman, Rail Freight Group Twitter Image (talked about: Challenges in a devolved rail sector, capacity, investment and access issues)
  • Alice Gillman, Communications, Vivarail (talked about: The Class 230 - a new train for a new franchise)
  • Stephen Joseph, Executive Director, Campaign for Better Transport Twitter Image Facebook Image (talked about: Priorities for the Railways, a CBT perspective)
  • Professor Clive Roberts, University of Birmingham (talked about: The digital age of railways)
  • The conference was opened by Councillor Carl Rice, Lord Mayor of Birmingham


Past events for each year

Up to three national events are held each year. Click on the location to see the details.

2024 Edinburgh (AGM)
2023 Leeds London (AGM)
2022 Webinar Bristol (AGM)
2021 Birmingham (AGM)
2020 Birmingham (AGM) Webinar
2019 Cardiff (AGM) Darlington Bristol
2018 Edinburgh (AGM) Carlisle Reading
2017 Peterborough (AGM) Leeds Leicester
2016 Milton Keynes (AGM) Scottish Borders Birmingham
2015 Blackpool (AGM) Newark Bristol
2014 Sheffield (AGM) Cambridge London
2013 Durham (AGM) Taunton Oxford
2012 Worcester (AGM) Stirling Birmingham
2011 Brighton (AGM) Bletchley Manchester
2010 Wrexham (AGM) Taunton London
2009 Leeds (AGM) Northallerton Corby
2008 Coventry (AGM) Salisbury London
2007 Preston (AGM) Glasgow Ely
2006 Swindon (AGM) Stoke Reading
2005 Peterborough (AGM) Barry Manchester
2004 Newcastle (AGM) Birmingham
2003 Birmingham Cardiff (AGM) London
2002 Nottingham (AGM) Derby London
2001 Liverpool (AGM) Poole London
2000 Croydon (AGM) London
1999 York (AGM) Walsall Colchester
1998 Shrewsbury (AGM) Cambridge London
1997 Norwich (AGM) Halifax London
1996 Mansfield (AGM) Bicester London
1995 Exeter (AGM) Bathgate London
1994 Lincoln (AGM) Clitheroe London
1993 Ashford (AGM) Maesteg London
1992 Birmingham (AGM) Nottingham London
1991 Edinburgh (AGM) Birmingham
1990 Manchester (AGM) London
1989 Southampton (AGM) London
1988 Leicester (AGM) London
1987 Newcastle (AGM) London
1986 Cardiff (AGM) London
1985 Wakefield (AGM) London
1984 Ely (AGM) London
1983 Crewe (AGM) London
1982 London Reading (AGM)
1981 Sheffield (AGM) London
1980 London Bristol (AGM) Derby Peterborough
1979 Peterborough (AGM)

Click HERE to see a full list of past events. Looking for something else? Check the LIBRARY