Autumn 2025 Day One
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Leonardo Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton
Learn … hard truths and new opportunities - whether you’re on the up or on the brink
Collaborate … and share your successes and concerns
Takeaway … useable and useful ideas, insights and innovations
Blending support, networking, expert advice and inspiration; enjoy the extensive programme offering valuable opportunities to find new solutions that enhance visitor experiences, streamline operations and help tackle the tough issues.
08.30 Arrival, registration, refreshments and networking
Tea/coffee and refreshments
09.00 Welcome and introduction to the day
Steve Oates Chief Exec, HRA
09.10 ‘From Running on Empty to Running with Purpose’
We all know the issues … a big railway losing a seven figure sum, rumours of another running out of cash, rosters unfilled, volunteers getting older, and endless debates about structures that feel like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. We say the model is broken, then hope it’ll work next year. We’re running on empty.
But, in our conference opener, Robin and John invite you to face the difficult challenges head-on and offer a presentation that gives hope, a roadmap to solutions, and inspiration for a stronger future
Dr Robin Coombes General Manager, Kent & East Sussex Railway
John Bailey Trustee, NYMR & Company Secretary, HRA
09.40 Fit for the Future
A case study on refocussing and reshaping a heritage railway
Two years ago Swanage Railway was looking down the tunnel to failure. At the Autumn 2024 conference the team from Swanage gave a very honest ‘warts and all’ account of the work underway to turn around a dire situation.
Another year on, new Chief Executive Abbie King and Chairman Gavin Johns provide an update on actual performance, their strong push to become a visitor attraction and how their governance review is materially supporting that … and integral to making themselves ‘Fit for the Future’.
Abbie King Chief Executive, Swanage Rly
Gavin Johns Chairman, Swanage Railway
10.10 What? Run a museum? How hard can that be?
A case study on refocussing and reshaping a heritage tramway
Crich – home of the National Tramway Museum. A superb example of a great operational heritage attraction. But behind the scenes the business was faltering and cashflow was challenged amid a prevailing atmosphere of ‘we’ve
always done it this way’!
Just under a year ago Graham Bennett took over as Chief Executive and in this straight-talking presentation he looks at the changes being implemented to stabilise the business and overhaul commercial activities to get the Museum back on track and secure its long-term future.
Graham Bennett Chief Executive, National Tramway Museum, Crich
10.40 Recovery from an Operational Incident
Five years ago the Llangollen Railway was fighting for survival – the plc gone bust, assets being sold, staff reductions and a pretty bleak outlook. And, despite huge strides forward, as they’ve discovered, after being ‘on the brink’, the road to full recovery can take years.
A year ago Richard Jones took on the Ops Manager role and in this session he outlines the initial challenges he faced within the Operations Department, and the importance of learning - and recovering - from an operational
incident as a key part of embracing an open culture, with communication at its heart.
Richard Jones Operations Manager, Llangollen Railway
11.10 Break - Networking - Tea/Coffee
11.30 Stressed businesses and the risk of insolvency – Turning around and restructuring businesses in a stressed environment
The economy is seriously stressed, businesses are stressed and more and more is being asked of our leaders, managers, staff and volunteers …
In this session, introduced by North Yorkshire Moors and Talyllyn railways Finance Director Garry Mumford, with Anton de Leeuw and Tim Pritchard (specialists in stabilising, refocusing and transforming businesses in distress) take you through the legal and practical management moves needed to unlock sustainable performance, preserve jobs and achieve the best outcomes for all stakeholders.
Anton de Leeuw Chief Executive, BM&T European Restructuring Solutions
Tim Pritchard Legal Director at Foot Anstey LLP
12.00 'Could you run a heritage railway?'
Reflecting on the real-world operational pressures and the global and societal forces stacking-up against us, Robin and John unify the disparate themes on the agenda, leave the room thinking differently and challenge the myth that ‘just getting on with it’ is enough!
John Bailey Trustee, NYMR & Company Secretary, HRA
Dr Robin Coombes General Manager, Kent & East Sussex Railway
12.30 Panel Session
Staying on the Front Foot - Future-proofing our Heritage Railways
Leading on from Robin and Johns' presntation, they join a selection of speakers from this morning’s sessions as we discuss how to balance the very real challenges of running a heritage railway, while highlighting heritage rail’s strengths and proudly talking-up our railways and tramways.
13:00 Lunch … and the opportunity to network with colleagues
14.00 The Regulatory Bit!‘ - Managing health as well as safety’ and ‘Managing events – safely’
Simon Barber HM Principal Inspector of Railways, ORR
14.30 A standard for ‘Platform Train Interface’- In development ...
The HRSSB’s first standard - ‘Inspection and risk assessment of level crossings on Heritage Railways’ - is now published and, with the second nearing completion, Matt Green takes you through the new standard …
Matt Green Projects and Support Specialist, Victa Railfreight
14.40 The Digital Line - A railways journey to improving its IT infrastructure and security
Is your IT infrastructure up to scratch? Or just another poor relation to those gleaming locomotives? And how secure are your systems? Do you think about risks of hacking, phishing or just losing unprotected data?
If it crashes, it’ll disrupt your business … If your data is stolen it might end your business!
In this session we explore the work at one railway to overhaul their IT and infrastructure and security
Anne-Marie Wright Chair, Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
15.05 Break - Networking with Tea/Coffee
15.25 A Technical Innovation - Safety Culture and how Lynton and Lynmouth Lift Company adopted their Digital Reporting Platform
Last year, the 135 year-old Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway digitalised its entire safety management system … From daily checks to ongoing maintenance, record keeping, vibration monitoring, and text alerts, its ‘Safety Culture system’ is 100% digital and controlled by individual staff iPads all feeding back to a central supervisor sign-off prior to daily public opening …
Adam Collier takes you through the innovative system which was recognised in the 2025 HRA Awards winning the HRA Innovation of the Year Award!
Adam Collier Engineer & Operations Manager, Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Rly
15.40 Yet another challenge for heritage rail – Ecological Responsibility
The new Vale of Berkeley Railway is developing its heritage centre close to several ecologically sensitive sites near the River Severn and plans to build a shed and workshop have been affected by new legislation that requires a plan to undertake baseline surveys and submit a plan to increase the diversity by 10% over a 30 year period!
This has been a huge challenge for the VOBR and Howard shares his experience of the demands this new legislation is likely to make on all heritage organisations submitting planning applications in the future.
Howard Parker Chair, Vale of Berkeley Railway Charitable Trust
16.10 Coal … again! - A policy approach on coal and Net Zero
Whether 15”-gauge or mainline steam, when it comes to coal and protecting heritage rail’s future, our sector needs to speak with one voice. In this short session, the HRA sets out the new coal policy statement for the sector and the consultation and thinking behind it. Plus, there’s a brief update on recent governmental activity on fossil fuels.
16.30 Heritage Rail at 75
It all began on 14th May 1951. As the 75th anniversary year approaches, we discuss the PR and marketing opportunities for the whole sector
16.40 Round-up and Close
Steve Oates HRA Chief Exec
16.45 to 18.30 The HRA Members and Partners Drinks Reception Hosted by Rail Events Inc
- Drinks Reception and networking for all delegates and exhibitors kindly supported by Rail Events Inc
PLUS
From 14.00 to 16.00 Grants and Funding ‘Advice Surgery’
A drop in session in the Bar area to find out more about the opportunities that exist for your railway, tramway or rolling stock group to access external funding, with two experts in the field.
- Sian Mexsom Mexsom Associates Limited, Fundraising consultancy and interim management
- Edmund Southworth Chair of the HRA Museums Group and former panel member of NLHF
