1993
Born from Crisis
Approx. 15 Member Organisations
Our Founding
A coalition of Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, trade unions, local MPs (including Baroness Margaret Beckett), and private businesses joined forces to lobby for the survival of the local rail industry. Back then there was real concern that the world-renowned expertise that existed locally would be lost during the privatisation process.
The Catalyst
The Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF) was established as a direct response to a crisis in the local supply chain. Following the privatisation of British Rail Engineering (BREL), the Litchurch Lane works (now Alstom) had gone 1,064 days without a new train order.
Formally Incorporated as a Non-for-Profit Company, Limited by Guarantee
In 2009, this move professionalised the Forum, transitioning it from a loose lobbying and networking group into a structured, business-led trade association while maintaining its non-profit ethos.
2009
Board Establishment
First Chair Appointment
In 2009, Colin Walton, former UK Chairman of Bombardier Transportation, was appointed as the first official Chair of the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF), serving a pivotal six-year tenure through to 2015.
His appointment brought heavyweight industrial leadership and national credibility to the organisation during a critical era of post-recession recovery and shifting government rail procurement policies.
2014
Senior Leadership Appointment
First General Manager Appointment
Neil Harvey was appointed as the first dedicated General Manager of the Derby & Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF), marking a crucial shift toward professionalising the organisation's operations and embedding a more strategic approach to its activities.
Bringing extensive engineering and communications leadership from his senior career at Bombardier Transportation, Harvey stepped into the role to strengthen the organisation's operational foundation and amplify its regional voice.
2015 - 2018
Our Growing Reach
Approx. 125 Member Organisations
Second Chair Appointment
In 2015, Paul Francis, former Managing Director of rolling stock company (ROSCO) Porterbrook Leasing, was appointed as the second Chair of the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF), succeeding Colin Walton and serving a three-year tenure through to 2018.
His appointment brought deep rolling stock leasing, asset management, and commercial finance expertise to the board, representing a vital diversification of leadership beyond vehicle manufacturing.
Rebranding as Rail Forum East Midlands
2019
New Strategic Direction
CEO Appointment
Third Chair Appointment
Paul Robinson, former Managing Director of Tramlink Nottingham (Nottingham Trams), was appointed as the third Chair of the organisation, serving a three-and-a-half-year tenure through to late 2022.
His appointment brought invaluable light rail, concession management, and direct operational expertise to the Board at a pivotal moment of transition and national crisis.
Appointment of First Membership Manager
2022
Recognition as a National Body
Serving with National Reach
At the request of members the organisation rebranded simply as Rail Forum. The regional "Midlands" tag was dropped to reflect reality: the membership was truly national, with companies joining from Scotland to the South East.
The Forum was now defined as a "national body with strong regional connections."
New Chair Appointment
Will Rogers, former Managing Director of East Midlands Railway (EMR), was elected Chair of the Rail Forum Board in 2022, succeeding Paul Robinson following Robinson's retirement after three and a half years of service as Chair.
2023
30 Years of Excellence
The Forum Celebrated its 30th Anniversary
Having grown substantially from its humble beginnings and original focus (to help the supply chain during a time of major upheaval as British Rail was split into various successor companies and suppliers needed to maintain and make new contacts in these companies).
Collaborative Partner Announcement
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) was announced as the "30th Anniversary Collaborative Partner," signalling a forward-looking focus on testing, innovation, and export potential.
Designated Custodians of Rail Safety Week
In 2023, Rail Forum was named custodian of Rail Safety Week (RSW) following an agreement with its founder, Alan Tarrant, who established the dedicated industry-wide campaign in 2016. Entrusted with preserving the initiative's founding vision while expanding its reach, Rail Forum stewards the annual drive to keep health, safety, and wellbeing front and centre across the rail sector. In this role, Rail Forum coordinates cross-industry collaboration - bringing together operators, infrastructure bodies, the supply chain, and schools to amplify vital safety messaging, share best practices, and drive continuous improvement across the network.
2024 - 2025
Unleashing UK Rail Excellence, Together
Branding Update
Launching the Rail Forum Podcast
2025
Co-location with GBR Transition Team Headquarters at Derby Rail Station
Rail Forum Relocates its Headquarters to Paul Duval House in Derby’s "Station Quarter".
This move placed the Forum immediately next to the railway station, physically co-locating it within the heart of the "Rail Campus Derby" initiative.
This proximity was designed to facilitate daily collaboration with the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) and Shadow GBR, ensuring the supply chain remained physically and strategically close to the industry's new "guiding mind."
2026
Board Member Changes
Approx. 400 Member Organisations
New Chair Appointment
In July 2026, Michelle Craven-Faulkner, Partner and Head of the National Rail Team at Shoosmiths, was appointed Chair of Rail Forum, succeeding Will Rogers.
Having served for several years as Rail Forum’s Vice-Chair, her appointment marked a natural leadership progression, bringing over two decades of specialised rail commercial law, procurement, and strategic supply chain experience to the head of the Board.
