Heritage Railway Association events are all purpose-designed to help the heritage rail sector.
They're also a great way to meet new people from the sector, network and share information and ideas with colleagues from other HRA member organisations. We hold events regularly and try to use locations that are easily accessible for members from across the UK.
HRA Conferences
Our conferences are the biggest, most informative events that exist for heritage rail managers, directors, trustees and other senior volunteers or staff. They're never afraid to delve into the most challenging topics and to bring people together who are looking to find solutions to the biggest issues the sector faces.
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Previous events have covered everything from coal to marketing and communications; from equality and diversity to safety; governance to young volunteer recruitment. Every HRA conference is a 'must do' event if you're at the sharp end of heritage rail.
Upcoming conferences
Chair's Lunches
The Chair’s Lunches have been designed as great networking events. They will provide ideal opportunities for peer-to-peer conversations with counterparts in other heritage rail bodies and the chance to build new connections.
Chair's Lunches
HRA Annual Awards
The Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards, is the 'Oscars' of the heritage rail sector. The long-running awards recognise excellence or innovation in almost every aspect of heritage railway and tramway restoration, preservation and operation. Recent winners have ranged from the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway’s 2ft 6in gauge steam locomotive Premier, to the Class 50 Alliance for their work on late-1960s 100mph diesel electric locomotives, and even a train of galvanised steel coal hoppers.
HRA Annual Awards 2026
Safety workshops
The Heritage Railway Association is working with the Office of Rail and Road and Rail Accident Investigation Branch to offer a programme of seminars.
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Workshops in 2025/26
Scottish Forum
The full return of the HRA Scottish Forum for the first time since the coronoavirus pandemic takes place on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
Book Scottish Forum places
Recent events
Presentations and documents from a range of recent events can be found here ...
Spring Conference 2025
Our Spring Conference was in Nottingham with a focus on marketing, coal and infrastructure.
HRA Awards 2025
The expansion of the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion site in Shildon, the recreation of Brighton ‘Atlantic’ Beachy Head, and the determined bounce back of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway were among the big winners at the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards 2025.
Autumn Conference 2024
Our Autumn Conference in Torquay during November covered funding, director and trustee competence, safety ... and much, much more.
2024 ORR heritage workshops
The Heritage Railway Association is again working with the Office of Rail and Road to offer a programme of seminars to help improve health and safety management capability and, this year, specifically Safety Management Systems.
Spring Conference 2024
The Heritage Railway Association conference came to Llandudno with a host of presentations on the latest challenges facing the sector.
Autumn Conference 2023
The Heritage Railway Association Autumn Conference in Newcastle presented the latest thinking from the most knowledgeable, experienced, and innovative people in the heritage rail sector.
RM3 Heritage workshops
The Office of Rail and Road and the Heritage Railway Association ran six RM3 Heritage Workshops at various locations around the country during 2023.
