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, 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, ScotRail Alliance, 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.
Future Events
Click HERE For a list of rail-related events including free-to-attend Railfuture branch meetings
2018/Edinburgh (AGM) [link]
- 12/05/2018 14th Railfuture Ltd AGM
- Hosted by Railfuture Scotland branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Registration from 10:00, begins at 11:00 with speakers, AGM from 14:00, finishes by 17:00
- Speakers:
- Alex Hynes, Managing Director, ScotRail Alliance (talking about The Scotrail Franchise - 4 years On)
- Humza Yousaf, Scottish Government Minister for Transport and the Islands, Scottish National Party
- Fraser McDonald and Norman McNab, Friends of the West Highland Lines
- The Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Joan Griffiths, will formally open the AGM
- This is the full list of speakers (note: 'Depute' above is the correct spelling in this instance)
- Venue: Holyrood Hotel
- Room: The Salisbury Suite
- 81 Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh
- Postcode: EH8 8AU
- Phone: (0131) 528 8000
- Email: general.holyrood at macdonald-hotels.co.uk
- 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. Lothian Buses Service 6 crosses Princes St with a stop at the foot of the Mound at nn:15 and nn:45 each hour
- The AGM is open to all current members or their proxy - there is no fee to attend.
- All paperwork was completed on 28/02/2018. It is now too late to include anything for the AGM in the standard mailing with Railwatch.
- Proxy voting is now open (click HERE to vote online) and must be received by the Company Secretary by 10/05/2018
- Motions must be received by the Company Secretary by 28/04/2018
- Information about how Railfuture is run, including a copy of the Articles of Association, can be found at Railfuture+organisation.
- Click [DOWNLOAD] or [DISPLAY] for the attendance/proxy form (PDF format)
- Click [DOWNLOAD] or [DISPLAY] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
- On this occasion Railfuture is not offering lunch. There will be plenty of places to buy lunch within 10 minutes' walk
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
2018/Carlisle [link]
- 23/06/2018 The North West's Crucial Role in National Rail Connectivity
- Hosted by Railfuture North West branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #RailfutureCarlisle2018
- Begins at 10:45, registration from 10:00, finishes by 17:00
- Speakers:
- Representative from Story Contracting (talking about Reopening landslip at Eden Brows on the Settle & Carlisle line)
- Mark Rand, Past Chairman, Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line
- Simon Walton, Chair, Campaign for Borders Rail
- Several speakers are urgently being sought. Note: Paul Maynard had agreed to speak but following a reshuffle Jo Johnson is now the rail minister and his constituency is in the south of England so he cannot attend. Unfortunately Dawn McGough of Community Rail Cumbria has also had to cancel
- Venue: Hallmark Hotel
- Court Square, Carlisle
- Postcode: CA1 1QY
- Phone: 0330 028 3401
- The Hallmark Hotel is next to Carlisle railway station. It is fully accessible
- For further details about the conference please email carlisle2018 at railfuture.org.uk.
- Places are still free to book - but bookings for this conference will close on 21/06/2018
- The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only is still open but will end on 30/04/2018.
- Prices for Carlisle: [book]
- £25.00 - Early bird (members only)
- £30.00 - Members after 30th April
- £30.00 - Non-members
- £20.00 - 16-25 Railcard Holder
- Includes: Welcome refreshments and buffet lunch.
- Click [HERE] to download a booking form (PDF format). Note: online bookings are preferred.
2018/Reading [link]
- 10/11/2018
- Hosted by Railfuture Thames Valley branch
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Venue: Hotel Novotel Reading Centre
- Room: Meeting rooms 6 & 7
- 25b Friar Street, Reading
- Postcode: RG1 1DP
- Phone: 0118 952 2720
- Places are still free to book - but bookings for this conference will close on 08/11/2018
- The 'Early Bird' discount offer for members only is still open but will end on 31/08/2018.
- Prices for Reading: [book]
- £25.00 - Early bird (members only)
- £30.00 - Members after 31st August
- £30.00 - Non-members
- £20.00 - 16-25 Railcard Holder
- Includes: Welcome refreshments and buffet lunch.
Additional Railfuture National Conferences - Dates for your diary
- 22/06/2019 - Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington
- 18/05/2019 - Yr Hen Lyfrgell, The Hayes, Cardiff (AGM)
Book Your Conference Place/AGM Lunch Now
A conference fee discount is available for group attendance (5+ people) - please contact by e-mail for price:
carlisle2018
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.
(MEDIA: For a free 'press pass' please contact Bruce Williamson by e-mailing media at railfuture.org.uk or phone on 07759 557389).
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
- 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
- 2009/Corby: Cllr Mark Pengelly
- 2007/Glasgow: Howard Pack
- 2006/Reading: Stephen Hammond MP
Cotswold Line Promotion Group:
- 2007/Ely: Derek Potter
- 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
European Passengers' Federation:
- 2012/Stirling: Trevor Garrod
Eurostar
:
- 2008/London: Simon Montague
- 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 Central Railway (2 events)
:
- 2017/Leicester: Tom Ingall
- 2015/Newark: Tom Ingall
- 2015/Bristol: Matthew Golton
- 2017/Peterborough: Jamie Burles
- 2008/London: Julie Mills
Green Party (2 events)
:
- 2008/London: Caroline Lucas
- 2001/London: Jennie Jones
- 2008/Salisbury: Peter Murnaghan
Hertfordshire County Council
:
- 2010/London: Trevor Mason
- 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
- 2016/Birmingham: Maria Machancoses
- 2006/Stoke: George Watson
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership :
- 2014/Cambridge: Chris Starkie
New Somerset and Dorset Railway
:
- 2013/Taunton: Dean Cockwell
Network Rail (7 events)
:
- 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
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
Rail Freight Group (3 events) :
- 2016/Birmingham: Lord Berkeley
- 2013/Oxford: Lord Berkeley
- 2008/London: Lord Berkeley
- 2014/London: Stefanie Browne
- 2017/Leeds: David Hoggarth
- 2017/Leeds: Angela Levitt-Harwood
- 2006/Reading: Ruth Leuillette
- 2018/Edinburgh: Alex Hynes
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Cllr David Parker
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Representative
- 2018/Edinburgh: Humza Yousaf
Severnside Community Rail Partnership:
- 2010/Taunton: Keith Walton
- 2006/Stoke: Carl Henderson
Skipton East Lancs Railway Action Partnership:
- 2007/Ely: Andy Shackleton
South East Northumberland Rail User Group :
- 2013/Durham: Dennis Fancett
- 2008/Salisbury: Philip Dominey
- 2016/Scottish Borders: Jane Ann Liston
- 1996/Bicester: Jim Steer
- 2018/Carlisle:
Sussex Community Rail Partnership:
- 2011/Brighton: Sam Bryant
- 2013/Taunton: John Burch
Thameslink and Great Northern
:
- 2017/Peterborough: Phil Hutchinson
- 2017/Leeds: Graham Meiklejohn
- 2017/Leeds: Jordan Sargeant
- 2007/Ely: Dave Wetzel
- 2008/London: Prof. Lewis Lesley
- 2007/Glasgow: Paul Tetlaw
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
:
- 2006/Stoke: Manuel Cortes
- 2009/Corby: Steve Abbott
- 2017/Leicester: Mark Winter
- 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
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, SRA, Save Our Sleeper, Shadow SRA, South East England Regional Assembly, South West Public Transport Users' Forum, Stagecoach Rail, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Taith, 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
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 SITEMAP
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Page last changed on 11th March 2018.