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 Trains, 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
Sorry but there are no future events available to book yet - please re-visit this website later.
Selected past event
2025/Peterborough - REGIONAL MINI-CONFERENCE [link]
- Thu 15/05/2025 Mini-Conference for East Anglia, East Midlands and Lincolnshire
- 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
- It was held at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1LF
- Doors opened at 12:00, when refreshments and a small buffet lunch were available (donation of £5 requested). Presentations were between 13:00 and 16:30
- Read the [Press Coverage] about the conference — BBC News (written by the BBC journalist who attended the first hour of the conference)
- Listen to a [Radio Interview] about the conference — BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (Dotty McLeod programme)
- Click [Download] or [Display] for the Slides produced by Railfuture (includes slides from some of the speakers) (PDF format)
- Read 2 articles about the conference:
- About the speakers: [Read Speaker Biographies]
- Anthony Smith, Chair, Independent Rail Retailers
(talked 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 (talked about: Open-access operators in the GBR era)
- Tom Ingall
(talked 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
- Tom Ingall previously spoke to Railfuture in Leicester at our confernece on 04/11/2017
- Lewis Banks, Transport & Environment Manager, Peterborough City Council (talked about: Peterborough station quarter redevelopment)
- UPDATE: Government approved business case for Station Quarter on 12 May - see BBC News Report. Funding confirmation has to wait for the Comprehensive Spending Review.
- Barry Coward, British Transport Films Archivist 1986-1996 — an amateur filmmaker and train enthusiast (presentation of a 45-minute video, using British Transport Films footage from 1949-1986, to celebarate Rail 200)
- Unfortunately, Stef Foster of Green Signals was no longer able to attend, because of another engagement; our replacement speaker was BBC Broadcaster, Tom Ingall, see above. Ingrid Hooley was replaced by Lewis Banks, but the presentation was the same
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.
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