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.
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
Following the ending of COVID-19 restrictions in England, Railfuture has resumed physical meetings, both at national and branch level. The first was the Railfuture Ltd AGM in Birmingham in July 2021. The successful 'Attracting Passengers Back to Rail' Zoom webinar, first staged in October 2020) was repeated in January 2022 to assess progress made by the rail industry (and government) and to see whether rail users' views had changed.
Click HERE For a list of rail-related events including free-to-attend Railfuture branch meetings
2022/Bristol (AGM) [link]
- Sat 16/07/2022 17th Railfuture Ltd AGM
- Plus presentation of Rail User Group Awards
- Hosted by Railfuture Severnside 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 of Railfuture Campaigner of the Year Award, followed by a break for lunch (not at venue). Afternoon session (open to all) has keynote speakers. Close at 15:30
- Venue: St Michael's Church Centre
- This venue is modern, attractive and is designed to hold large conferences
- Room: Large Meeting Room [image]
- The large meeting room can accommodate up 80 delegates seated cabaret style
- The Green, Stoke Gifford, Bristol
- Postcode: BS34 8PD
- Phone: 0117 969 2486
- Route: It is five minutes' walk from Bristol Parkway Station
- 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 Tue 08/03/2022. 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 14/07/2022
- Motions must be received by the Railfuture Ltd Chair, Chris Page (see details on AGM notice) by Sat 02/07/2022
- 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 Bristol AGM: [book]
- £10.00 - Standard Lunch
2022/Leeds - RAILFUTURE ANNUAL CONFERENCE [link]
- Thu 15/09/2022 Turning Point for the Railways [Why Attend?]
- 'What do we want the railways to look like in the future?'
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Timings: 09.15-10.00 Arrivals - tea/coffee/pastries; 10.00-12.45 Morning session; 12.45-13.45 Lunch; 13.45-16.30 Afternoon session to include a workshop for all attendees
- Speakers:
- Nick Flynn
and Abby Taylor
- Stewart Palmer, Vice President and Director, Railfuture
(talking about: Railfuture's aspirations for the future of the railways)
- Stewart was previously Managing Director of South West Trains
- Karen Bennett (talking about: How young people can be engaged in the railways)
- Phil Smart, Assistant Policy Manager, Rail Freight Group
- Phil is also Councillor at Ipswich Borough Council with a strong knowledge of transport matters
- Anna-Jane Hunter, Partner, Winder Phillips Associates, Women in Rail
- Dr Manuel Ofeda Cabral, Senior Research Fellow in Transport Economics and Appraisal, University of Leeds (talking about: The value of new railway lines and stations)
- Alison Smith, Head of Accessibility, Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) (talking about: Keynote Listener and update on GBRTT)
- The event will be chaired by Brian Barnsley - Deputy Chief Executive of Community Rail Network and Head of Support and Development
- Venue: St George's Centre
- This venue is modern, attractive and the air-conditioned room chosen is designed to hold large conferences
- Room: The Hemming Suite
- This large meeting room can accommodate up 150 delegates depending on layout; Railfuture has chosen a cabaret layout which handles 120 people
- 60 Great George Street, Leeds
- Postcode: LS1 3DL
- Phone: 0113 383 2140
- Enquiries about the conference: please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
- Places for this conference are still available. Please book by Tue 13/09/2022
- The 'Early Bird' discount offer is still open but will end on Fri 05/08/2022.
- Prices for the Railfuture Annual Conference in Leeds: [book]
- £45.00 - Early bird (members only)
- £50.00 - General Admission
- £35.00 - Student
- Includes: Lunch and refreshments will be provided
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.
Bookings should be made online. However, if this is not possible please send your details and a cheque to the 'All other correspondence' address (not the registered office address) shown on this page.
(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 dietary requirements in the 'optional note to seller' message box on the PayPal page.
Terms and Conditions
Before booking please make sure that you have read the Railfuture conference terms and conditions (PDF format).
Organisations that have spoken at Railfuture national events
Abbotsford House - home of Sir Walter Scott
:
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Giles Ingram
Anglia Railways:
- 2000/London: Jonathan Denby
- 2012/Birmingham: Richard Gibson
Arriva Trains Wales (2 events)
:
- 2010/Wrexham: Ben Jones
- 2005/Barry: Malcolm Howitt
Association of Community Rail Partnerships (3 events) :
- 2009/Corby: Brian Barnsley
- 2005/Manchester: Neil Buxton
- 2003/London: Paul Salveson
Association of Train Operating Companies (4 events):
- 2010/London: David Smith
- 2008/London: Chris Austin
- 2008/Coventry: Jim Morgan
- 1998/London: James Gordon
Bedford Commuters Association:
- 2007/Ely: Andy Long
Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group:
- 2013/Taunton: Steve Smith
- 2012/Worcester: Cllr Timothy Huxtable
- 2015/Newark: Steve Barber
- 2014/Cambridge: Jim Chisholm
Cambridgeshire County Council
:
- 2014/Cambridge: Bob Menzies, Jeremy Smith
Campaign for Better Transport (3 events)
:
- 2016/Birmingham: Stephen Joseph
- 2011/Bletchley: Stephen Joseph
- 2011/Brighton: Alexandra Woodsworth
- 2018/Carlisle: Simon Walton
Cardiff International Airport
:
- 2005/Barry: Steve Hodgetts
- 2019/Cardiff: Professor Mark Barry
- 2005/Peterborough: Tim Phillips
Centro :
- 2012/Birmingham: Toby Rackliff
Chester to Shrewsbury Rail Partnership:
- 2004/Birmingham: Sheila Dee
- 2013/Durham: Alex Nelson
Chiltern Railways (4 events)
:
- 2013/Oxford: Stephen Barker
- 2012/Birmingham: Richard Harper
- 2004/Birmingham: Alan Dare
- 2001/London: Adrian Shooter
- 2022/Leeds: Karen Bennett
- 2006/Reading: Stephen Hammond MP
- 2009/Corby: Cllr Mark Pengelly
- 2007/Glasgow: Howard Pack
Cotswold Line Promotion Group:
- 2007/Ely: Derek Potter
- 2019/Bristol: Richard Gibson
- 2014/London: Anna Matthews
- 2014/London: Trevor Birch
- 2017/Leicester: Jim Seymour
- 2014/Sheffield: Chris Bell
- 2014/London: Karen Boswell
- 2009/Northallerton: Andy Coward
East Midlands Trains (2 events)
:
- 2017/Leicester: Jake Kelly
- 2009/Corby: Tim Shoveller
East Suffolk Travellers Association:
- 2011/Manchester: Trevor Garrod
East West Rail Consortium (2 events) :
- 2013/Oxford: Patrick O'Sullivan
- 2010/London: Patrick O'Sullivan
Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway:
- 2009/Northallerton: Stephen Walker
Esk Valley Railway Development Company:
- 2019/Darlington: Alan Williams
European Passengers' Federation:
- 2012/Stirling: Trevor Garrod
Eurostar
:
- 2008/London: Simon Montague
- 2022/Leeds: Nick Flynn,Abby Taylor
- 2007/Ely: Robert Stripe
FirstBus :
- 2015/Bristol: James Freeman
- 2014/Cambridge: David Statham
First Great Western (3 events)
:
- 2010/Taunton: John Bird
- 2007/Ely: Bob Breakwell
- 2006/Swindon: Glenda Lamont
- 2009/Leeds: David Mallender
Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line :
- 2018/Carlisle: Mark Rand
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
:
- 2013/Taunton: Bernard Lane
Friends of the West Highland Lines (2 events) :
- 2018/Edinburgh: Fraser McDonald and Norman McNab
- 2011/Manchester: Peter Tomlinson
- 2017/Leicester: Rob Daffern
Grand Central (2 events)
:
- 2009/Northallerton: Tom Clift
- 2006/Stoke: Ian Yeowart
Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) (2 events):
- 2022/Leeds: Alison Smith
- 2022/Webinar: Suzanne Donnelly
Great Central Railway (2 events)
:
- 2017/Leicester: Tom Ingall
- 2015/Newark: Tom Ingall
Great Western Railway (2 events)
:
- 2019/Bristol: Matt Barnes
- 2015/Bristol: Matthew Golton
- 2017/Peterborough: Jamie Burles
- 2008/London: Julie Mills
Green Party (3 events)
:
- 2018/Edinburgh: John Finnie MSP
- 2008/London: Caroline Lucas
- 2001/London: Jennie Jones
Halifax and District Rail Action Group :
- 2018/Carlisle: Stephen Waring
- 2008/Salisbury: Peter Murnaghan
- 2018/Reading: Graham Cross
Hertfordshire County Council
:
- 2010/London: Trevor Mason
Hitachi Rail Europe (2 events) :
- 2019/Darlington: Tim Rutter
- 2013/Durham: Andy Rogers
HS2 (2 events)
:
- 2015/Blackpool: Stephen McFarlane
- 2011/Bletchley: Prof. Andrew McNaughton
- 2010/Taunton: Nick Gallop
- 2013/Taunton: John Chapman
- 2011/Manchester: Richard Watts
Labour Party (2 events)
:
- 2014/Sheffield: Mary Creagh MP
- 2011/Manchester: Lilian Greenwood MP
Leicestershire County Council :
- 2017/Leicester: Dr Terri Eynon
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Dr Allen Armstrong
- 2008/London: Norman Baker MP
- 2012/Birmingham: Nicola Moss
London Overground Railway Operations:
- 2010/London: Darren Hockaday
- 2001/Liverpool: Neil Scales
Midlands Connect (2 events) :
- 2021/Birmingham: Sarah Spink
- 2016/Birmingham: Maria Machancoses
- 2006/Stoke: George Watson
Network Rail (10 events)
:
- 2020/Webinar: Charlene [Charley] Wallace
- 2019/Bristol: Lorna Brown-Owens
- 2018/Reading: Anna Holbrook, Jill Poyton
- 2015/Newark: Graham Botham
- 2014/Cambridge: Paul McMahon
- 2013/Oxford: Chris Aldridge
- 2012/Birmingham: Mick Miller
- 2012/Stirling: Geoff Cook
- 2010/Taunton: Charles Varey
- 2005/Barry: David White
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership :
- 2014/Cambridge: Chris Starkie
New Somerset and Dorset Railway
:
- 2013/Taunton: Dean Cockwell
- 2019/Darlington: Philip Meikle
Newark and Sherwood District Council
:
- 2015/Newark: Roger Blaney
- 2011/Manchester: Barry Graham
Northern (Arriva Rail North)
:
- 2017/Leeds: Paul Barnfield
North West Leicestershire District Council :
- 2017/Leicester: John Legrys, Sean Sheahan
North Yorkshire County Council :
- 2009/Northallerton: Richard Owens and Andrew Eason
North Yorkshire Moors Railway:
- 2009/Northallerton: Phil Bustard
- 2002/Nottingham: Colin Lee
Nottinghamshire County Council (3 events)
:
- 2010/London: Jim Bamford
- 2009/Corby: Jim Bamford
- 2002/Derby: Jonathan Hall
North Cheshire Rail Users Group:
- 2011/Manchester: Cedric Green and Janet Briggs
Oxfordshire County Council (2 events)
:
- 2013/Oxford: Martin Tugwell
- 1996/Bicester: Dick Helling
Parry People Movers (2 events):
- 2015/Bristol: John Parry
- 2006/Stoke: Caspar Lucas
- 2014/London: Sharon Hedges
- 2011/Bletchley: Jonathan Tyler
- 2013/Taunton: Alan Matthews
- 2019/Darlington: Matthew Hunt
- 2020/Webinar: Jacqueline [Jac] Starr
Rail Freight Group (4 events) :
- 2022/Leeds: Phil Smart
- 2016/Birmingham: Lord Berkeley
- 2013/Oxford: Lord Berkeley
- 2008/London: Lord Berkeley
- 2014/London: Stefanie Browne
- 2017/Leeds: David Hoggarth
Railfuture (11 events)
:
- 2022/Leeds: Stewart Palmer
- 2022/Webinar: Stewart Palmer, Ian Brown CBE
- 2018/Carlisle: Stewart Palmer, Stewart Palmer
- 2015/Bristol: Peter Wakefield, Gerard Duddridge
- 2012/Stirling: Ken Sutherland
- 2011/Bletchley: Graham Nalty
- 2010/Taunton: George Boyle
- 2009/Corby: Colin Elliff
- 2008/Salisbury: Bruce Williamson
- 2006/Stoke: Graham Nalty
- 2003/Birmingham: Graham Nalty and Norman Bradbury
- 2017/Leeds: Angela Levitt-Harwood
Reading Borough Council (2 events)
:
- 2018/Reading: Cllr Tony Page
- 2006/Reading: Ruth Leuillette
RSSB
:
- 2020/Webinar: Ali Chegini
- 2018/Edinburgh: Alex Hynes
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Cllr David Parker
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Representative
Severnside Community Rail Partnership:
- 2010/Taunton: Keith Walton
- 2006/Stoke: Carl Henderson
Skipton East Lancs Railway Action Partnership:
- 2007/Ely: Andy Shackleton
SLC Rail :
- 2018/Reading: Ian Walters
- 2022/Webinar: Steve White
South East Northumberland Rail User Group :
- 2013/Durham: Dennis Fancett
- 2008/Salisbury: Philip Dominey
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Jane Ann Liston
- 1996/Bicester: Jim Steer
Sussex Community Rail Partnership:
- 2011/Brighton: Sam Bryant
- 2013/Taunton: John Burch
Thameslink and Great Northern
:
- 2017/Peterborough: Phil Hutchinson
- 2017/Leeds: Graham Meiklejohn
- 2008/London: Prof. Lewis Lesley
- 2007/Glasgow: Paul Tetlaw
Transport Focus (2 events) :
- 2020/Webinar: Linda McCord
- 2017/Leeds: Jordan Sargeant
- 2007/Ely: Dave Wetzel
Transport for London (Crossrail)
:
- 2018/Reading: Howard Smith
- 2019/Cardiff: Colin Lea
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
:
- 2006/Stoke: Manuel Cortes
- 2009/Corby: Steve Abbott
- 2017/Leicester: Mark Winter
- 2022/Leeds: Dr Manuel Ofeda Cabral
- 2005/Barry: Cllr Michael Harvey, Emma Harvey
- 2002/London: Chris Green
- 2015/Newark: David Horne
- 2016/Birmingham: Alice Gillman
- 2010/Wrexham: Tim James
- 2009/Northallerton: Tony Smare
Wensleydale Railway (2 events) :
- 2009/Northallerton: Ruth Annison
- 2006/Stoke: Ruth Annison
West of England Local Enterprise Partnership :
- 2015/Bristol: James White
West Midlands Rail Executive (2 events) :
- 2021/Birmingham: Malcolm Holmes
- 2020/Webinar: Peter Sargant
- 2019/Bristol: Jon Harris
- 2022/Leeds: Anna-Jane Hunter
Other organisations are: ASLEF, Adtranz, Borders Rail Campaign, British Rail, British Rail Engineering Ltd, Calderdale Council, Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, East London Line Group, First Great Eastern, First Group, Former BR Operations Manager now transport advisor to Newark Business Club, Great Western Trains, HMRI, Halcrow Transmark, Huddersfield Penistone Sheffield Rail Users Association, Imperial College, London, Leeds-Lancaster-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership (LLMCRP), London Lines, MP for Milton Keynes South, Parliamentary Transport Select Committee member, Melksham rail campaign, NUR, National Assembly, North West Public Transport Users' Forum, North West Rail Campaign, Piggyback Consortium, Rail Passenger Council, Rail Passengers Council, Railfuture (and former Managing Director of TfL London Rail), Railfuture Devon and Cornwall, Railfuture Directors, Railfuture President, Railfuture Scotland, Railtrack, Railtrack Property, Railway Forum, Railway Gazette International, Redland Aggregates, SRA, Save Our Sleeper, Shadow SRA, South East England Regional Assembly, South West Public Transport Users' Forum, Stagecoach Rail, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, TUCC, Taith, Tees Valley Combined Authority, TfL London Rail, Tramlink, Trans Wilts, Transport 2000, Transport Wales, TravelWatch SouthWest, Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, University of Birmingham, WAGN, Wales Transport Research Centre, Wales and West Railway, Welcome to Yorkshire, Wensleydale Rail Association and West Midlands Combined Authority
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