Autumn Conference 2025

Leonardo Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton 

November 4 and 5, 2025

Book now   and save with our 'Early Bird' rates 

Early Bird rates end at 9am on Monday, 8 September 2025

With optional visit to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for delegates

This must do event for all heritage railway and tramway managers, directors and trustees will feature a variety of high-quality speakers, great networking opportunities and the latest essential insights for everyone at the sharp end of the sector.

“HRA conferences spark motivation and trigger ideas - I have come away with 27 action points!”HRA Spring Conference 2025 attendee.

Learn … hard truths and new opportunities - whether you’re on the up or on the brink

Collaborate … and share your successes – and concerns - with other railways and tramways

Takeaway … useable and useful ideas, insights and innovations.

With a variety of sessions and speakers being confirmed, the HRA Autumn Conference is for every heritage railway, tramway, funicular railway and related organisation. If you’ve got concerns, worries or uncertainties about getting through the next couple of years, you need to be here ...

Planned content includes

Day One:

• Tough choices when old habits die hard; Governance and renewal for the future of heritage railways
• Recovery; Case studies on refocussing and reshaping a heritage railway on the brink of administration
• Businesses and the risk of insolvency – Turning around and restructuring a business in a stressed environment
• Effecting change at board level
• Managing health as well as safety
• Operating safely; The impact of non-railway events on railway operations
• Electrical safety
• Introducing the Victorians to digital safety management; An award-winning innovation
• A policy for coal
• Networking and opportunities for c2ollaborating with colleagues from other HRA member and partner organisations.

Day two:

• Does their face fit? Do we really value and welcome new volunteers?
• Neurodiversity; Attracting and nurturing all of your visitors and workforce
• Preserving the Past, Securing the Future: Why Heritage Railways Must Invest in Apprenticeships’ … (A new UK scheme for Heritage Engineering Apprenticeships)
• Trends and insights for heritage railways; the tourism stats and business data you need to plan ahead
• How do we attract new visitors? Events, activities and innovations to takeaway
• Filming in heritage locations
• Understanding audiences.

PLUS

• Keynote Speaker to be announced soon
• The best networking opportunities in the heritage rail sector. Your chance to collaborate with colleagues from other HRA member and partner organisations.
• AND optional visit to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for delegates on Monday, November 3 (further details when you book).

If you're staying overnight there will also be plenty of opportunity to network in the hotel bar or at a nearby pub during the evenings.

“There was a real sense of community and there was so much willingness to help us with problems.”Previous HRA Conference attendee.

“Friendly, helpful, informative, good to meet people with useful experience and knowledge.” Previous HRA Conference attendee.

Book now   and save with our 'Early Bird' rates

Early Bird rates end at 9am on Monday, 8 September 2025

Please Note: Tickets are available for the conference only and do not include for hotel accommodation or any other costs attendees may incur in attending this event.