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, 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, 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
2024/Edinburgh (AGM) [link]
- Sat 13/07/2024 19th Railfuture Ltd AGM [Why Attend?]
- 116 days until AGM
- Plus presentation of Rail User Group Awards by Railfuture Honorary President Christian Wolmar
- Hosted by Railfuture Scotland 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. Includes presentation c.12:30 of the 3rd award for Railfuture Member of the Year, organised by Director Wendy Thorne, followed by a break for lunch (at venue if booked). Afternoon session from 13:30 (open to all) has presentation from two rail industry speakers and then the 9th Rail User Group Awards, organised by Director Roger Blake. Close at 15:30
- Speakers:
- Cllr. Scott Arthur , Edinburgh City Council (talking about: Edinburgh Trams — incl. proposals to open a second line)
- Cllr. Arthur has confirmed and he will be having lunch at the AGM venue, so this will be a chance for others to speak to him. A second speaker, possibly from ScotRail, is being sought.
- Venue: Edinburgh Holyrood Hotel
- Room: Holyrood Suite
- 81 Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh
- Postcode: EH8 8AU
- Phone: (0131) 528 8000
- Email: info at edinburghholyroodhotel.com
- Route: The venue is a 4-star hotel, 0.5 miles from Edinburgh Waverley Station and just metres from Holyrood Park. From Waverley station exit via Market Street; cross road and turn into Jeffrey Street. At traffic lights, continue forward into St Mary Street, passing a Travelodge on your right. At second set of traffic lights, turn left into Cowgate, keep left on to Holyrood Road. The Hotel is situated on the left about 400 metres from the traffic lights.
- Enquiries about the AGM: please see the inserts included with the current edition of Railwatch, click the 'Further Info' link below or 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 Tue 27/02/2024. 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 11/07/2024
- Motions must be received by the Railfuture Ltd Chair, Chris Page (see details on AGM notice) by Sat 29/06/2024
- Information about how Railfuture is run, including a copy of the Articles of Association, can be found at Railfuture+organisation.
- Further Info: Click [Download] or [Display] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
- Refreshments are complimentary. Lunch, if required, must be purchased in advance (by Fri 05/07/2024) [book].
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
- Lunch Prices for Edinburgh 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
2018/Reading [link]
- Sat 10/11/2018 Rail driving growth in the Thames Valley
- Plus presentation of 2018 Rail User Group Awards. Railfuture Vice-President Stewart Palmer will make the RUG Award presentations
Photos above show: (left) opening of the rebuilt Reading station and (right) permanent track installed between Stepney Green and Pudding Mill Lane for Crossrail, which is one of the topics of the conference
- Richard Stow, chair of Railfuture Thames Valley branch said:
"Reading's the focus of British transport investment right now, with electrification, new trains, and much more to come.
"Our speakers have given up their time to give us a glimpse of the future. They'll give us updates on Crossrail to the heart of London, and Reading's new 24-minute service to the heart of Heathrow, as well as progress on new stations, including Green Park, and the exciting scheme to connect Heathrow to Surrey and the South West.
"This conference promises one of the best ever line-ups of speakers, so if you are interested in global warming, the environment, transport, or just want to know why Reading is so successful, please come along, you don't need to be an expert." - Hosted by Railfuture Thames Valley branch
- It was held at Hotel Novotel Reading Centre
- Further Info: Click [Download] or [Display] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
- Read 2 press releases about the conference:
- Read a [Press Release] — Guest speakers - why you should attend
- Read a [Press Release] — RUG Award winners
- Howard Smith, Operations Director, Crossrail, Transport for London (Crossrail) (talked about: An insight into Crossrail and its forthcoming launch) - click [Download] or [Display] for the speaker's slides (PDF format)
- Anna Holbrook, Sponsor for Western Rail Link to Heathrow, Network Rail (talked about: Western rail access to Heathrow Airport project) - click [Download] or [Display] for the speaker's slides (PDF format)
- Jill Poyton, Sponsor of Great Western Electrification, Network Rail (talked about: Electrification on the Great Western) - click [Download] or [Display] for the speaker's slides (PDF format)
- Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council (talked about: Reading Transport and Integration)
- Ian Walters, Managing Director, SLC Rail (talked about: Stations and projects they are progressing, including reading Green Park, Worcestershire Parkway and Wantage Grove) - click [Download] or [Display] for the speaker's slides (PDF format)
- Graham Cross, Chief Executive, Heathrow Southern Railway - click [Download] or [Display] for the speaker's slides (PDF format)
CONFERENCE MATERIALS:
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.
Click HERE to see a full list of past events. Looking for something else? Check the LIBRARY