Railfuture Conferences

Railfuture holds two national conferences each year, usually in the summer and 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.

Speakers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some of the organisations who have spoken at conferences include Anglia Railways, Arriva Cross Country, Arriva Trains Wales, Association of Train Operating Companies, Cardiff International Airport, Centro, Chester-le-Track, Chiltern Railways, 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 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, ScotRail Alliance, SLC Rail, South West Trains, Thameslink and Great Northern, Transpennine Express, TramPower, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, UK Rail Leasing, Virgin Trains, Virgin Trains East Coast and Vivarail.

To follow Railfuture's conferences on Twitter use the hash-tag shown against the conference.
Note: this hash-tag is not exclusive to Railfuture.

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Future Events

Click HERE For a list of rail-related events including free-to-attend Railfuture branch meetings

2019/Cardiff (AGM) [link]

• Sat 18/05/2019 15th Railfuture Ltd AGM
• Hosted by Railfuture Cymru/Wales branch
• Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
• Registration from 10:00, AGM from 11:00, presentation of Railfuture Campaigner of the Year Award followed by lunch. Afternoon session TBC. Close at 15:00
• Venue: The Sport Wales National Centre [map] [bus information] [useful info]
• Room: Bute Suite
• Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• Postcode: CF11 9SW
• Phone: 0300 300 3111
• Email: nationalcentre at sport.wales
• Route: It is located on the edge of Cardiff city centre, 15 to 20 minutes' level walk from Cardiff Central Station. Cardiff Bus services 25 and 63 operate from a city centre stop in Westgate street, 5 mins walk from the exit of Cardiff Central to a stop in Cathedral Road, 2 mins walk from the Sports Wales building. Both operate at a 20 mins frequency so a combined service of 6 buses per hour.
• Additional info: The venue offers B&B, which is currently £36 per person per night but will be reviewed also on 01/04/2019. Bookings will need to be made directly with Denise Nicholas - Assistant Customer Services Manager on denise.nicholas@sport.wales
• For further details 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 28/02/2019. (This is the date when files go to the printer.)
• Proxy votes can be registered between Sat 09/03/2019 and Thu 16/05/2019
• Motions must be received by the Company Secretary by Sat 04/05/2019
• 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 Cardiff AGM: [book]
• £10.00 - Standard Lunch

2019/Darlington [link]

• Sat 22/06/2019 Rebirth of the Railway [Why Attend?]

Photo above shows: Images of railways in the north east (by Dave Shaw). Click image to see in full size
• Ian Walker, secretary of Railfuture North East branch says: "The emphasis at this conference will be on new developments occurring in the industry - and what better place to locate the event than Darlington where railway history truly began?
  "As shown below, key inputs will come from representatives of Hitachi Rail Europe, Tyne and Wear Metro, the Port of Sunderland, Esk Valley Rail Development Company and from the elected Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchin.
  "The venue is centrally located in Darlington less than 10 minutes' walk from the Railway Station.
  "Darlington itself is easily accessible being on the ECML and is served by regular services from Scotland, London Birmingham & Manchester and all points in between.
  "We look forward to your attendance at this event. Let's make it another great Railfuture Summer Conference!"
• Hosted by Railfuture North East branch
• Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
• Speakers:
• Philip Meikle, Transport Strategy Director, Nexus
• Matthew Hunt, Port Director, Port Of Sunderland
• Representative from Hitachi Rail Europe
• Ben Houchen, Elected Mayor, Tees Valley
• Alan Williams, Chairman, Esk Valley Railway Development Company
• The above is the full list of speakers. The name of Hitachi Rail Europe speaker is not confirmed yet
• Venue: Dolphin Centre
• Room: Central Hall (2nd floor)
• Horsemarket, Darlington
• Postcode: DL1 5RP
• Phone: 01325 406000
• The room is accessible via both stairs amd lift from the enterance foyer. There are accessible toilets on the 2nd floor as well as toilets on 1st and ground floors
• Route: Exit the station on to Victoria Road, at the roundabout turn right onto Feethams. You will see signs to the Town Hall. The Dolphin Centre is opposite. (Approx. 10-15 minute walk)
• For further details about the conference please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
• Places are still free to book - but bookings for this conference will close on Thu 20/06/2019
• The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only is still open but will end on Tue 30/04/2019.
• Prices for Darlington: [book]
• £12.50 - Early bird (members only)
• £15.00 - Members after 30th April
• £15.00 - Non-members
• £10.00 - 16-25 Railcard Holder
• Includes: Complimentary refreshments available throughout the day and a buffet lunch

2019/Bristol [link]

• Sat 21/09/2019 Every Passenger Matters
• Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
• Venue: St Michael's Church Centre
• Room: Large Meeting Room
• The Green, Stoke Gifford, Bristol
• Postcode: BS34 8PD
• Phone: 0117 969 2486
• Route: It is just three minutes' walk from Bristol Parkway Station
• For further details about the conference please email conferences at railfuture.org.uk.
• Sorry but bookings are not being taken yet - please re-visit this web-site later.
• The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only will end on Wed 31/07/2019.

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Terms and Conditions

Before booking please make sure that you have read the Railfuture conference terms and conditions (PDF format).

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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

Arriva Cross Country :

• 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

Birmingham City Council:

• 2012/Worcester: Cllr Timothy Huxtable

Broxtowe Borough Council :

• 2015/Newark: Steve Barber

Cambridge Cycling Campaign :

• 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

Campaign for Borders Rail :

• 2018/Carlisle: Simon Walton

Cardiff International Airport :

• 2005/Barry: Steve Hodgetts

CAST.IRON:

• 2005/Peterborough: Tim Phillips

Centro :

• 2012/Birmingham: Toby Rackliff

Chester to Shrewsbury Rail Partnership:

• 2004/Birmingham: Sheila Dee

Chester-le-Track:

• 2013/Durham: Alex Nelson

Chiltern Railways (4 events) :

• 2013/Oxford: Stephen Barker
• 2012/Birmingham: Richard Harper
• 2004/Birmingham: Alan Dare
• 2001/London: Adrian Shooter

Corby Borough Council :

• 2009/Corby: Cllr Mark Pengelly

Corus:

• 2007/Glasgow: Howard Pack

Conservative Party :

• 2006/Reading: Stephen Hammond MP

Cotswold Line Promotion Group:

• 2007/Ely: Derek Potter

Delta Rail :

• 2014/London: Anna Matthews

Department for Transport:

• 2014/London: Trevor Birch

Derbyshire County Council :

• 2017/Leicester: Jim Seymour

Don Valley Railway :

• 2014/Sheffield: Chris Bell

East Coast :

• 2014/London: Karen Boswell

East Lancashire Railway :

• 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

Fen Line Users' Association:

• 2007/Ely: Robert Stripe

FirstBus :

• 2015/Bristol: James Freeman

First Capital Connect :

• 2014/Cambridge: David Statham

First Great Western (3 events) :

• 2010/Taunton: John Bird
• 2007/Ely: Bob Breakwell
• 2006/Swindon: Glenda Lamont

First Transpennine Express :

• 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

Furrer + Frey GB :

• 2017/Leicester: Rob Daffern

Grand Central (2 events) :

• 2009/Northallerton: Tom Clift
• 2006/Stoke: Ian Yeowart

Great Central Railway (2 events) :

• 2017/Leicester: Tom Ingall
• 2015/Newark: Tom Ingall

Great Western Railway :

• 2015/Bristol: Matthew Golton

Greater Anglia :

• 2017/Peterborough: Jamie Burles

Greengauge 21 :

• 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

Hampshire County Council:

• 2008/Salisbury: Peter Murnaghan

Heathrow Southern Railway :

• 2018/Reading: Graham Cross

Hertfordshire County Council :

• 2010/London: Trevor Mason

Hitachi Rail Europe (2 events) :

• 2019/Darlington:
• 2013/Durham: Andy Rogers

HS2 (2 events) :

• 2015/Blackpool: Stephen McFarlane
• 2011/Bletchley: Prof. Andrew McNaughton

Intermodality:

• 2010/Taunton: Nick Gallop

Kilbride Group:

• 2013/Taunton: John Chapman

Lancashire County Council :

• 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

Levenmouth Rail Campaign :

• 2016/Scottish Borders: Dr Allen Armstrong

Liberal Democrats :

• 2008/London: Norman Baker MP

London Midland :

• 2012/Birmingham: Nicola Moss

London Overground Railway Operations:

• 2010/London: Darren Hockaday

Merseytravel:

• 2001/Liverpool: Neil Scales

Midlands Connect :

• 2016/Birmingham: Maria Machancoses

MyTestTrack.com:

• 2006/Stoke: George Watson

Network Rail (8 events) :

• 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

Nexus:

• 2019/Darlington: Philip Meikle

Newark and Sherwood District Council :

• 2015/Newark: Roger Blaney

Northern Rail :

• 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

Nottingham Express Transit:

• 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

Passenger Focus :

• 2014/London: Sharon Hedges

Passenger Transport Networks:

• 2011/Bletchley: Jonathan Tyler

Portishead Railway Group :

• 2013/Taunton: Alan Matthews

Port Of Sunderland :

• 2019/Darlington: Matthew Hunt

Rail Freight Group (3 events) :

• 2016/Birmingham: Lord Berkeley
• 2013/Oxford: Lord Berkeley
• 2008/London: Lord Berkeley

RAIL Magazine :

• 2014/London: Stefanie Browne

Rail North :

• 2017/Leeds: David Hoggarth

Railway Mission :

• 2017/Leeds: Angela Levitt-Harwood

Reading Borough Council (2 events) :

• 2018/Reading: Cllr Tony Page
• 2006/Reading: Ruth Leuillette

ScotRail Alliance :

• 2018/Edinburgh: Alex Hynes

Scottish Borders Council :

• 2016/Scottish Borders: Cllr David Parker

Scottish Mining Museum :

• 2016/Scottish Borders: Representative

Severnside Community Rail Partnership:

• 2010/Taunton: Keith Walton

Silvertip Design:

• 2006/Stoke: Carl Henderson

Skipton East Lancs Railway Action Partnership:

• 2007/Ely: Andy Shackleton

SLC Rail :

• 2018/Reading: Ian Walters

South East Northumberland Rail User Group :

• 2013/Durham: Dennis Fancett

South West Trains :

• 2008/Salisbury: Philip Dominey

St Andrews Railway Campaign :

• 2016/Scottish Borders: Jane Ann Liston

Steer Davies Gleave :

• 1996/Bicester: Jim Steer

Sussex Community Rail Partnership:

• 2011/Brighton: Sam Bryant

Tarka Rail Association:

• 2013/Taunton: John Burch

Thameslink and Great Northern :

• 2017/Peterborough: Phil Hutchinson

Transpennine Express :

• 2017/Leeds: Graham Meiklejohn

Transport Focus :

• 2017/Leeds: Jordan Sargeant

Transport for London:

• 2007/Ely: Dave Wetzel

Transport for London (Crossrail) :

• 2018/Reading: Howard Smith

TramPower:

• 2008/London: Prof. Lewis Lesley

TRANSform Scotland :

• 2007/Glasgow: Paul Tetlaw

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association :

• 2006/Stoke: Manuel Cortes

TravelWatch East Midlands:

• 2009/Corby: Steve Abbott

UK Rail Leasing:

• 2017/Leicester: Mark Winter

Vale of Glamorgan Council :

• 2005/Barry: Cllr Michael Harvey, Emma Harvey

Virgin Trains :

• 2002/London: Chris Green

Virgin Trains East Coast:

• 2015/Newark: David Horne

Vivarail:

• 2016/Birmingham: Alice Gillman

Welsh Assembly Government:

• 2010/Wrexham: Tim James

Welsh Highland Railway:

• 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

Other organisations are: Adtranz, Borders Rail Campaign, 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, National Assembly, North West Public Transport Users' Forum, North West Rail Campaign, Piggyback Consortium, Rail Passenger Council, Rail Passengers Council, Railfuture, Railfuture (and former Managing Director of TfL London Rail), Railfuture Directors, Railfuture Scotland, Railtrack, Railtrack Property, Railway Forum, 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, Taith, Tees Valley, TfL London Rail, Tramlink, Trans Wilts, Transport 2000, Transport Wales, TravelWatch SouthWest, University of Birmingham, WAGN, Wales Transport Research Centre, Wales and West Railway, Welcome to Yorkshire, Wensleydale Rail Association and West Midlands Combined Authority

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Past events for each year

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

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	Reading (AGM)	London
1981	Sheffield (AGM)	London
1980	Bristol (AGM)	London
1979	Peterborough (AGM)	London

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

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It's not necessary to join Railfuture as a member to support our work and campaigns. But it would help our campaigns even more, not just financially but also our influence, if you become a member. Click here to apply to join. You can pay immediately with your credit or debit card or PayPal account. Further information about the benefits of Railfuture membership, including packages for local authorities, parish councils, businesses and other organisations, can be obtained by e-mailing membership@railfuture.org.uk or write to: Membership Secretary 1 Queens Road Barnetby le Wold North Lincs DN38 6JH (Our previous membership address was at Brant Road in Lincoln. If you have sent membership correspondence there, don't worry, it will be forwarded.)

Page last changed on 11th February 2019.