Railway Development Society

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.

Related Documents

Railway Development Society correspondence
A special issue focusing on reopenings.

RDS Campaigner, No. 6
Records relating to the Save Our Railways campaign from 1975 - 2002, including correspondence; policy work (1990-2001); work on the Passenger Service Requirement (1992-2001); legal challenges (1995-1997); general press releases and news briefings produced by Save Our Railways and the Better Rail Campaign (1988-1998); administrative records (1987-2001); photographs (c. 1999-c.2002); publications, booklets, research reports and other printed materials (1995-1999); publications, press cuttings, and reports collected by Save Our Railways (1975-1997); and printed posters and signs from campaign stunts (1995-2002). Materials document Save Our Railways' initiatives to campaign on railways-related topics in the final years before the Railways Bill introduced privatised rail infrastructure, engineering, track maintenance, signalling, Train Operating Companies, and other aspects of railway operations for passengers and goods transport in the United Kingdom; the formation of a Strategic Rail Authority; rail land use and station and line closures; timetabling, accessibility, and fares; and other features of passenger transport by rail.

Records from Save Our Railways
Reports include the London & Home Counties Branch memorandum to the London regional passengers' committee summarising the society's grounds of objection to the withdrawal of rail passenger services between Dalston (Western Junction) and Broad Street and the diversion of Richmond - Broad Street services to Noth Woolwich, annual reports and financial statements, 'Sprinting across England', the British Rail Property Board, its benefits and drawbacks for rail users, the Great Transport Subsidy - a market place comparison with rail, 'Guide for rail users' groups' and 'Protecting the Network - a commentary on rail privatisation by Ruth Turner.

Railway Development Society reports
Railway Development News: a voice for rail users newsletters. Headlines include 'protests mount over Woodhead route', 'Britain's APT reaches 160mph', 'Barmouth Viaduct under attack', 'Tunbridge Wells and Eridge closure', 'Rail users oppose Serpell' and 'the truth about Settle-Carlisle'. This is an incomplete set. There are a few members only supplements (in pink) loose or attached to some of the booklets. Inserts of the newsletter 'In Parliament' are inside in the June and November 1983 copies. An insert of the newsletter Railondon are inside the September 1984 copy.

Railway Development News
Includes an update on the success of Rail Development Week (23 - 30 October).

Railway Development Society members' bulletin
The folder includes headed paper and a original and copies of the Railway Development Society RDS logo.

Railway Development Society logo samples
An incomplete set. The newsletter covers subjects including the Channel Tunnel, "our railway system the worst in Western Europe", "Liverpool Street to cost £260m", 'Morpeth crash showed strength and stability of BR coaches', 'Clapham needs a Tube' and '125 now obsolete'.

Railway Development Society 'In Parliament' newsletter
This is an incomplete set. Railwatch: an independent voice for rail users newsletters. Headlines include 'Goole - Gilberdyke: more borrowed time?', 'All hands to the rescue of Balloch Pier!', 'Beeching is back', It's just not fare enough!', 'Karmageddon protest', 'Great train robbery', 'The core of the problem', and 'Choked by perverse policies'. The main run is dated from March 1985 - June 2000, with two copies dating from June 1019 to October 2019 which were acquired as part of an accural.

Railwatch
Six sheets to colour with a pack of crayons.

Railway Development Society London and Home Counties branch colouring sheets
Regarding disappointment at report on North of London Eurostar.

The Railway Development Society press releases

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