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, 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

2018/Carlisle [link]

• 23/06/2018 The North West's Crucial Role in National Rail Connectivity
• This is a FREE event but please register in advance (see below)
• Useful for Rail User Groups to attend. Speakers in the morning and a workshop for attendees in the afternoon led by Railfuture director Stewart Palmer (former SWT Managing Director) focusing on how campaigners should engage with TOCs to be successful (such as timetables that passengers want). Each workshop group will present its conclusions to others through a 'market stall'. Morning and afternoon tea/coffee will be provided.
• 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
• This was originally promoted as a paid-for conference but Railfuture has decided to widen the scope to involve rail user groups and to include a workshop. As this is a signficant change the event is now free and those who have paid will be refunded. However, lunch will no longer be provided
• 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
• Speakers only in the morning as there will be a workshop in the afternoon.
• Click [DOWNLOAD] or [DISPLAY] for the conference programme, including map (PDF format)
• 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
• To register for this free event (or to cancel) please email carlisle2018 at railfuture.org.uk.
• Places are still free to book - but bookings for this conference will close on 21/06/2018
• Suggested places for lunch: Lunch can be bought at the hotel, at the station or at various places close by

2018/Reading [link]

• 10/11/2018 Rail driving growth in the Thames Valley
• Plus presentation of 2018 Rail User Group Awards
• Hosted by Railfuture Thames Valley branch
• Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
• Speakers:
• Howard Smith, Operations Director, Crossrail, Transport for London (Crossrail) (talking about: An insight into Crossrail and its forthcoming launch)
• Anna Holbrook, Sponsor for Western Rail Link to Heathrow, Network Rail (talking about: Western rail access to Heathrow Airport project)
• Howard Elliot, Project Engineering Manager, Network Rail (talking about: Electrification on the Great Western project)
• Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council (talking about: Reading Transport and Integration)
• Ian Baxter, SLC Rail (talking about: Stations and projects they are progressing, including reading Green Park, Worcestershire Parkway and Wantage Grove)
• Mark Walker, Heathrow Southern Railway
• This is the full line-up of speakers
• 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.

2019/Cardiff (AGM) [link]

• 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, begins at 11:00 with speakers, AGM from 14:00, finishes by 17:00
• Venue: Yr Hen Lyfrgell
• The Hayes, Cardiff
• Postcode: CF10 1BH
• Phone: (029) 2022 5982
• Email: post at yrhenlyfrgell.cymru
• 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 28/02/2019. (This is the date when files go to the printer.)
• Proxy votes can be registered between 09/03/2019 and 16/05/2019
• Motions must be received by the Company Secretary by 04/05/2019
• Information about how Railfuture is run, including a copy of the Articles of Association, can be found at Railfuture+organisation.
• On this occasion Railfuture is not offering lunch. There will be plenty of places to buy lunch within 15 minutes' walk
• The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.

Additional Railfuture National Conferences - Dates for your diary

• 22/06/2019 - Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington

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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

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

Hampshire County Council:

• 2008/Salisbury: Peter Murnaghan

Heathrow Southern Railway :

• 2018/Reading: Mark Walker

Hertfordshire County Council :

• 2010/London: Trevor Mason

Hitachi Rail Europe:

• 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

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership :

• 2014/Cambridge: Chris Starkie

New Somerset and Dorset Railway :

• 2013/Taunton: Dean Cockwell

Network Rail (8 events) :

• 2018/Reading: Anna Holbrook, Howard Elliot
• 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

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

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 Baxter

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

Story Contracting :

• 2018/Carlisle:

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, 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

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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)
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 SITEMAP

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Support Our National Campaigning - Join Railfuture Annual Rates: £18 adults, £14 concessions

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 March 2018.