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, Green Signals, Heathrow Southern Railway, Hitachi Rail Europe, HS2, Independent Rail Retailers, London Midland, London Overground Railway Operations, Merseytravel, MyTestTrack.com, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Northern Trains, 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
2026/Birmingham (AGM) [link]
- Sat 04/07/2026 21st Railfuture Ltd AGM
- 117 days until AGM
- Unfortunately the tram line to Dudley has been delayed and will open after the AGM, probably on 28 August 2026, but we hope to have a tour of the tram depot at Wednesbury. Numbers will be limited so, for fairness, there will be a lottery to select visitors
- Hosted by Railfuture West Midlands branch
- Reason for Birmingham: to celebrate the Camp Hill line opening and the two West Midlands tram extensions
- Social media hashtag (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for this event: #rfconference
- Business starts at 11:00 but doors open at 10:00 and refreshments will be served soon after
- Venue: The Priory Rooms
- Room: Main Meeting House
- Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham
- Postcode: B4 6AF
- Phone: (0121) 236 2317
- Route: Priory rooms front gate is less than ten metres from Bull Street tram stop. If walking follow tram lines from New Street or Snow Hill stations
- 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 Fri 20/02/2026. 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 02/07/2026
- Options to attend:
- We are expecting around 50 members to attend in person - refreshments will be arranged for them (with some spare ones).
- If you have already informed Railfuture of your wish to view remotely then you should receive an email with the Zoom connection details around a week before the AGM.
- If not, you can register online. A separate registration is needed for the morning (AGM business) and afternoon (guest speakers) sessions.
- Motions must be received by the Railfuture Ltd Chair, Chris Page (see details on AGM notice) by Sat 20/06/2026
- 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)
- Further Info: Click [Download] or [Display] for the AGM notice and agenda, including map (PDF format)
- Lunch arrangements
- On this occasion Railfuture is not offering lunch.
- Unlimited tea/coffee is provided during the day at the venue for those attending the AGM, but lunch will not be provided. There are plenty of cafes and shops nearby. You can eat your own food in the courtyard outside the venue (if the weather is good)
- The venue does not allow people to eat their own food on the premises.
Sorry but there are no other future events available to book yet - please re-visit this website later.
Selected past event
2022/Webinar - RAILFUTURE WEBINAR [link]
- Wed 12/01/2022 Rail Recovery - how to realise the potential
- Neil Middleton, Railfuture director and webinar organiser said:
"Rail is the safest and most sustainable form of powered transport, and should be quick, comfortable, cost effective and reliable, but to many of us it doesn't seem that way at the moment.
"Putting aside the cuts caused by the downturn in passengers from current high Covid infection rates and the linked non-availability of rail staff, services have been taken out of the timetable, resulting in longer waits, journeys that then require a change in the middle and, sometimes, an early finish.
"Moreover, the fares system is yet to properly recognise the 'new normal' with its shift to hybrid working (Railfuture is unimpressed with the Flexi-season ticket).
"Finally, it seems that rail is not being treated fairly on inflation (3.8% on rail fares in March 2022 and no fuel duty increase in the Autumn 2021 budget.
"I thank everyone who joined our webinar." - Join from 11:20, webinar starts at 11:30 and finishes at 13:00
WEBINAR MATERIALS:
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