The Railway Development Society was formed in 1978 by the merger of the Railway Development Association and the Railway Invigoration Society. Like its predecessor societies, it was an unincorporated members’ society. It campaigned for improved railways and railway services. From the year 2000 it adopted the campaigning name Railfuture and in 2001 it incorporated a company, Railfuture Limited, to protect that name. The Railway Development Society transferred its activities and assets to the Railway Development Society Limited in 2004.