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.
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
2024/Edinburgh (AGM) [link]
- Sat 13/07/2024 19th Railfuture Ltd AGM [Why Attend?]
- 61 days until AGM
- Plus presentation of Rail User Group Awards by Railfuture Honorary President Christian Wolmar
- Hosted by Railfuture Scotland 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 c.12:30 of the 3rd award for Railfuture Member of the Year, organised by Director Wendy Thorne, followed by a break for lunch (at venue if booked). Afternoon session from 13:30 (open to all) has presentation from two rail industry speakers and then the 9th Rail User Group Awards, organised by Director Roger Blake. Close at 15:30
- Speakers:
- Cllr. Scott Arthur , Edinburgh City Council (talking about: Edinburgh Trams — incl. proposals to open a second line)
- Cllr. Arthur has confirmed and he will be having lunch at the AGM venue, so this will be a chance for others to speak to him. A second speaker, possibly from ScotRail, is being sought.
- Venue: Edinburgh Holyrood Hotel
- Room: Holyrood Suite
- 81 Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh
- Postcode: EH8 8AU
- Phone: (0131) 528 8000
- Email: info at edinburghholyroodhotel.com
- 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.
- Enquiries about the AGM: please see the inserts included with the current edition of Railwatch, click the 'Further Info' link below or 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 27/02/2024. 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 11/07/2024
- Motions must be received by the Railfuture Ltd Chair, Chris Page (see details on AGM notice) by Sat 29/06/2024
- Information about how Railfuture is run, including a copy of the Articles of Association, can be found at Railfuture+organisation.
- Further Info: Click [Download] or [Display] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
- Refreshments are complimentary. Lunch, if required, must be purchased in advance (by Fri 05/07/2024) [book].
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
- Lunch Prices for Edinburgh AGM: [book]
- £14.00 - Standard Lunch
Book Your AGM Lunch Now
(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 additional requirements or information by email (see 'enquiries' above) after receiving your booking acknowledgement.
Terms and Conditions
Before booking please make sure that you have read the Railfuture conference terms and conditions (PDF format).
Selected past event
2013/Taunton [link]
- Sat 22/06/2013 Vision and Reality - Can we have both?
- Hosted by Railfuture Severnside branch
- It was held at Albemarle Centre
- Railfuture is grateful for sponsorship from First Great Western
- John Chapman, Director, Kilbride Group (talked about: Return to Tavistock [Community Rail Reopening])
- John Dora, John Dora Consulting (former Network Rail engineer) (talked about: Railways, Weather and Climate Change Research)
- Alan Matthews, Chairman, Portishead Railway Group (talked about: Campaigning to reopen a long-closed line)
- Dean Cockwell, Project Manager, New Somerset and Dorset Railway (talked about: Rail reopening campaign with a long-term aim)
- Bernard Lane, Chairman, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (talked about: Campaigning for an effective City Rail Network)
- John Burch, Chairman, Tarka Rail Association (talked about: The Problem that is Cowley Bridge Junction)
- Steve Smith, Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group (talked about: Wisdom of Electrification to a Non-Terminus)
- Chris Fribbins and Chris Page, Railfuture Directors (talked about: Network Rail's Long-Term Planning Process)
CONFERENCE MATERIALS:
Nothing is available
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.
Click HERE to see a full list of past events. Looking for something else? Check the LIBRARY