The National Rail Users Conference is in London on Saturday 27 September. The speaker will be David Bertram, chairman of the Central Rail Users Consultative Committee.
Journalist Christian Wolmar who was guest speaker at the RDS election forum in London in February paid tribute to RDS for diligence, initiative and enthusiasm in promoting progressive ideas. Speakers from the three main parties parried a series of questions about their policies.
A whole series of events are being organised rom April to September to celebrate 150 years of railway services into Windermere. More details from 01539 726285
Passengers on branch lines like the Bedford-Bletchley would stand back in amazement if a new streamlined diesel multiple unit used in Germany rolled into their local stations. The Talent train is made by Germany's oldest rolling stock maker Waggonfabrik Talbot, now owned by the Bombardier Eurorail group. It has already sold 120 units for regional lines and is hoping to export others. Talbot offers a range of internal layouts, including some tip-up seats and an area to accommodate bikes and prams. National Express has just taken over the Bedford-Bletchley line and committed itself to replace slam-door trains. Will its "new" trains be the best in Europe or will it choose the cheapskate Pacer?
The Rail Reopenings Conference is on Saturday 28 June at Halifax.
November: Miss B Carmichael, Edinburgh, £76.60, F J Griffiths, Nottingham £47.88, Mark Edhell, Rotherham £28.73, Andy Brabin, London SW11 £19.15, Malcolm Stewart, Swinton £9.57, Donald Bulmer, Weston-super-Mare £9.57.
December: E Booth, York £78.60, Nigel Perkins, London W3 £49.13, Ms Juliet Gardiner, Didcot £29.47, Bill Stoneham, Maidstone £19.66, Jennifer Adams, Stowmarket £9.82, A S Cleveley, Birmingham £9.82.
January: J Rice, Ormskirk £77.60, I M Hallack, Altrincham £48.50, David Miles, Sheffield £29.10, Anthony O'Brien, Guildford £19.10, Brian Hastings, Scunthorpe £9.70, Elisabeth Jordan, Corby £9.70.
You can email Railwatch editor Ray King at editor@railwatch.org.uk (or just click on this link)
or e-mail Lloyd Butler at butler@argonet.co.uk with comments about the Railwatch Web pages
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