Railfuture
{{Short description|UK railway advocacy group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Railfuture
| logo = Logo_of_Railfuture.png
| founded_date = 1978 (One predecessor founded 1951)
| area_served = United Kingdom
| focus = Transport
| method = Political advocacy
| location = 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP{{Cite web |url= https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05011634 |title=THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House) |website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk| access-date=2017-02-16}}
| coords =
| homepage = [http://www.railfuture.org.uk/ www.railfuture.org.uk]
| formerly = Railway Development Society}}
Railfuture (formerly the Railway Development Society) is a UK advocacy group which promotes better rail services for passengers and freight across a bigger rail network.{{Cite web |url= http://www.railfuture.org.uk/Who+we+are|title=Who we are |publisher= Railfuture |access-date=2017-02-16}} The group's national policies are determined by its national board of directors (one-third elected by the membership every year, for a three-year term) and its national AGM. The group's campaigns are pursued nationally by three policy groups (Passenger, Infrastructure & Networks, Freight) and locally through regional branches (12 in England, plus one each in Wales{{cite web |url=http://www.railfuturewales.org.uk |title=Railfuture Wales |publisher=Railfuture}} and Scotland{{cite web |url=http://www.railfuturescotland.org.uk |title=Railfuture Scotland |publisher=Railfuture}}). Its honorary president is Christian Wolmar, a transport writer and broadcaster.{{cite web |url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/National+Contacts | title=National Contacts |publisher=Railfuture}} Its vice-presidents include former rail industry leaders Adrian Shooter CBE, Ian Brown CBE, Chris Green, and Stewart Palmer, and leading commentators such as Roger Ford of Modern Railways, fellow columnist Alan Williams, and Paul Abell, a former editor of Today's Railways UK.
Railfuture's opinions and campaigns receive coverage in the UK press, including national,{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38486011 |title=Train fares rise by an average of 2.3% |date=2017-01-02 |work=BBC News |access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-24079062 |title=Cambridge-Bedford rail link options proposed |date=2013-09-13 |work=BBC News |access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/05/hs2-railways-reopened-lines-britain-rail |title=In the age of HS2, the past teaches us there are far better ways to run our railways |date=2016-06-05 |newspaper=The Guardian |location= London |access-date=2017-02-16 |first=Christian |last=Wolmar}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/serco-awarded-contract-to-run-the-famous-caledonian-sleeper-railway-line-9447845.html |title=Serco awarded contract to run the famous Caledonian Sleeper railway |date=2014-05-28|newspaper=The Independent |access-date=2017-02-16 |location= London}} regional,{{Cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/299337/vision-for-future-of-tayside-and-fife-rail-services-to-be-unveiled/ |title=Vision for future of Tayside and Fife rail services to be unveiled |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=2017-02-16|language=en-US}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/government-accused-smoke-mirrors-rail-prices-rise/story-27645996-detail/story.html |title=Government accused of 'smoke and mirrors' as rail prices rise by 1 per cent |date=2015-08-20|newspaper=Western Morning News|access-date=2017-02-16|language=en}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15063710.Wallet_busting_rail_fares_set_for_massive_overhaul/ |title=Wallet-busting rail fares set for massive overhaul|website=Daily Echo |date=2 February 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/news/14930201.Could_delays_in_electric_trains_provide_benefits_in_other_parts_of_the_county_/|title=Could delays in electric trains provide benefits in other parts of the county?|website=Bicester Advertiser |date=26 November 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-02-17}} and rail{{Cite web |url=http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2016/01/13/rail-fares-divorced-from-reality-claims-railfuture|title=Rail fares "divorced from reality", claims Railfuture |website=www.railmagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2009/05/27-nr-punctuality-virgin.html |title=Network Rail's claim of 'record punctuality' runs into criticism |website=Railnews |language=en |access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/railfuture-makes-the-case-for-uckfield--lewes-reopening |title=Railfuture makes the case for Uckfield – Lewes reopening|website=www.railtechnologymagazine.com|access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.railengineer.uk/2016/04/22/after-borders-what-next/ |title=After Borders, what next? |date=2016-04-22 |website=Rail Engineer |access-date=2017-02-17}} publications. It has been mentioned in both houses of Parliament,{{Cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1984/mar/12/british-rail-settle-carlisle-line |title=British Rail (Settle-Carlisle Line) (Hansard, 12 March 1984) |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|language=en-GB|date=12 March 1984 |access-date=2017-02-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2010-06-09/debates/10060947000001/HighSpeedRail?highlight=Railfuture#contribution-10060947000084|title=High Speed Rail – Hansard Online|website=hansard.parliament.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-17}}{{Cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2016-11-15/debates/99993470-734B-4BA3-B2C1-BAD1DEBD0066/WalesBill?highlight=Railfuture#contribution-3520B653-21F7-4429-8E07-D39B4D66EA82|title=Wales Bill – Hansard Online |website=hansard.parliament.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-17}} and transport unions{{Cite news|url=https://www.unison.org.uk/motions/2016/retired-members/ticketless-train-travel/|title=Ticketless Train Travel |newspaper=UNISON National|access-date=2017-02-16|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.aslef.org.uk/article.php?group_id=553|title=SRA Reports delayed by Government|website=www.aslef.org.uk|access-date=2017-02-16}} and international press{{Cite web|url=http://www.regionale-schienen.at/0_thema_201004.asp?mid=23 |title=Thema|website=Regionale Schienen |access-date=2017-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bahnnews.info/aktuelles/bermai11.htm|title=Bahnberichte im Mai 2011 |website=www.bahnnews.info|access-date=2017-02-17}} also cite its reports and follow its actions. It claims to have 20,000 affiliated and individual members.
History
The Railway Development Society (RDS) was preceded by the Society for the Reinvigoration of Unremunerative Branch Lines (UK) [SRUBLUK] founded in 1951 and which became the simpler-sounding Railway Invigoration Society (RIS). The RIS and the Railway Development Association (RDA, founded 1951{{Cite book|title=Railways, Urban Development and Town Planning in Britain: 1948–2008|last=Haywood|first=Russell|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781317071648|pages=127|quote=The RDA had been formed in 1951 to argue the case for the development of modern lightweight diesel railbuses and multiple units to sustain retention of the branch lines: Sir John Betjeman was one of the founders. The RDA became the Railway Development Society and continues to operate today, now known as Railfuture.}}) merged in 1978 to become the RDS.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/tiki-index.php?page=Railfuture%20history|title=Railfuture {{!}} Railfuture history|website=www.railfuture.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}} A founding member of the RDA was poet and rail enthusiast Sir John Betjeman.
One of the society's main campaign points was the retention of railway lines threatened with closure, and now the reopening of closed lines and stations. Campaigns with successful outcomes include the saving of the Settle–Carlisle line in the 1980s,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/nostalgia/nostalgia_history/4311341.How_they_defeated_British_Rail_on_points/|title=How they defeated British Rail on points|website=Craven Herald|date=25 April 2009 |language=en|access-date=2017-02-17}} improvements to the Oxford–Bicester line,{{Cite news|url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/for-staff/features/all-aboard-the-brain-train|title=All aboard the brain train|date=2013-11-12|newspaper=University of Cambridge|access-date=2017-02-17|language=en-gb}} and the reopening of the Borders Railway.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railfuturescotland.org.uk/bordersrailway.php|title=Railfuture – Borders Railway Reopening|website=www.railfuturescotland.org.uk|access-date=2017-02-17}}{{Cite web|url=http://railtube.info/2016/06/borders-railway-success-conference-this-weekend-shares-the-secrets/|title=Borders Railway success – Conference this weekend shares the secrets – Rail Tube|website=railtube.info|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-02-17}}
Additionally, Railfuture publishes proposals for entirely new rail schemes. One such is Thameslink 2, an additional north-south route cross-London route, connecting the Brighton Main Line to routes north of London, via East Croydon, Lewisham, Canary Wharf, and Stratford.{{Cite web|url=https://www.railfuture.org.uk/Thameslink+2|title=Railfuture | Thameslink 2|website=www.railfuture.org.uk}}
Structure
The group has an elected national Board of Directors, and twelve English regional branches, plus Railfuture Scotland and Railfuture Wales.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/branches/|title=Railfuture Branches|website=www.railfuture.org.uk|access-date=2017-02-16}}
= Initiatives =
The organisation has campaigned a reworking of concessionary fares on the British railway network by the introduction of a uniform "National Railcard" scheme to replace the railcards including the 16–25 Railcard, Network Railcard and Senior Railcard. Such a card was envisaged to take a similar form to existing BahnCard products offered by Deutsche Bahn in Germany. In April 2003, a study undertaken jointly by Railfuture and the Rail Passengers Council (later "Passenger Focus") stated that three million rail travellers might buy such a railcard if it were priced at £20.00, and offered a one-third discount for off-peak travel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railfuture.org.uk/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=62|title=Proposed new National Railcard – press release}}
Other work has included advice on access for disabled passengers, such as in Gloucestershire.https://guide.glosnhs.net/guide/index.php/record/detail/138767. Guide Database: Gloucestershire NHS. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
= Collaboration =
Railfuture is a member of the European Passenger Federation.
= Publications =
Railwatch is a magazine published by Railfuture four times per year.
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book|title=British Railways after Beeching |last=Allen |first=G. Freeman |publisher=Ian Allan|year=1966|location=Shepperton}}
{{refend}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.railfuture.org.uk/}}
Category:Transport advocacy groups of the United Kingdom
Category:Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom