Conference 2025 Isle of Man

“Connecting Rails, Inspiring Futures: Embracing Heritage and Touristic Rail- & Tramways”

Welcome to the Fedecrail Conference 8-12 May 2025

What’s Included in Your Registration Fee

Your registration fee includes meals throughout the conference days, and access to excursions and/or speaker sessions based on your selected options. Each participant will also receive a welcome package, including a Go Card, which provides access to various transportation options on the Isle of Man. You’re free to explore on your own or join the group activities during our stay.

Please note that travel to the Isle of Man and accommodation are not included in the registration fee and are additional expenses. When you fill out the form, it will take some time before you receive a confirmation and invoice. Under invoice address you specify where your invoice should go, preferably to an email. But it is not always the person who registers who will receive the invoice, so if an association or similar is to receive it, you specify that information. If nothing is specified, the invoice will be sent to the email you provided in the registration.

Hotel booking

We are no longer holding pre-booked rooms for the conference, but the event will take place at The Empress Hotel on the Isle of Man. You are welcome to book your stay at The Empress directly or choose from the many hotels available in Douglas across different price ranges. Please make your own accommodation arrangements to suit your preferences.

Other good hotel options are availble nearby the Empress map

Links to information about accommodation Visit Isle of Man, booking, Trivago

Thursday 8 May 2025

Working groups start their meetings from 14:00 until 17:00

So whats the working Groups?

Fedecrail members face a wide range of challenges within their operations. To better address these, we organize our efforts into specialized groups, including the Heritage Operating Group, Tramway Group, World Industrial Mobile Heritage Initiative, and Environmental Group. Our heritage railways, for instance, face significant hurdles with fossil fuel dependency, regulatory requirements, and infrastructure needs, while tramway operations confront distinct yet comparable challenges.

Beyond operational issues, members must also tackle the need for workforce renewal, skill transfer, financial sustainability, and preservation of collections. We strive to direct the right questions to the right places, ensuring our working groups—comprising skilled and dedicated members—can facilitate roundtable discussions, share best practices, and provide support where it is needed most.

What will our working groups do:

HOG is looking at having interactive sessions with the Isle of Man railway. Here there will be an opportunity for a good exchange of experience and an opportunity to see behind the scenes.

TG will have a similar session at the Isle of Man Tramway, in addition to this, various different topics will be discussed.

EWG/WIMH gathers at the hotel for meaningful dialogues on issues that concern us all. How do we continue to work with Plan Paris while preserving our mobile cultural heritage. Important issues to actively participate in.

Youth Group will have their meeting on Saturday after the AGM.

18:00
Welcome reception at the Empress Hotel, including an overview of the programme for the coming days. There will be served a light Buffet.

The welcome reception will be attended by
Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer KCB, DSO, MBE Governor of the Isle of Man & Lady Lorimer MBE
You also will receive your welcome package

Presentation from Charles Guard MBE, Manx historian and broadcaster and expert in the heritage of the Isle of Man.

Friday 9 May 2025

09:00 – 17:00 Meeting with breaks for refreshments and lunch

Fedecrail Business Sessions at the Conference

Join us for an exciting series of business sessions at the Fedecrail conference! This is a unique opportunity to gain insights, expertise, and experiences from key figures in the railway and tramway sector.

Marketing, Events & Public Engagement in the Heritage Sector

• Steve Oates (HRA, UK – Railway 200 & Heritage Promotion)
• Oliver Edwards (Edwards & Fox)
• Representative from the Isle of Man Tourist Board

Join us for an inspiring and hands-on session designed to elevate how we present and promote heritage railways to the world. This session dives deep into how strategic marketing can expand reach, build recognition, and strengthen partnerships.

How can the heritage rail sector stand out in a competitive experience economy? This session brings together leading voices in branding, marketing, and public engagement to share practical insights and inspiring case studies tailored to the sector.

🔸 Branding a Nation: The Isle of Man Case Study
We begin with a unique story where motorsport and heritage coexist. The Isle of Man, world-renowned for the TT Races, has successfully used this global spotlight to promote its rich cultural heritage—including its railways—by crafting a compelling, authentic brand identity. Learn how they’ve reached new visitors, press and sponsors through a strategic blend of thrill and tradition.

🔸 Edward and Fox: Creative Strategy for the Heritage Rail Sector
Experts in branding and communication, Edward and Fox will share how they work with heritage railways to refine their voice, elevate visual identity, and create targeted marketing strategies that attract audiences and build long-term engagement.

🔸 Railway 200: Celebrating a National Milestone
Steve Oates, CEO of the Heritage Railway Association, shares lessons from Railway 200—the UK-wide celebration of 200 years of railway history. Learn how effective coordination, branding and stakeholder buy-in transformed an anniversary into a unifying movement across the heritage rail sector.

Whether you’re running a small volunteer-led railway or managing a national operation, this session will equip you with tools, examples, and inspiration to amplify your message and deepen your impact.

Governance & Inclusive Practices

Good governance and inclusive practices aren’t just buzzwords—they are essential for the long-term sustainability of the heritage rail sector. This powerful session invites you to explore how modern leadership, diversity, and equity can transform both organisations and the communities they serve.

• Marieke Nauta (Moderator)
• Steve Oates (HRA, UK)
• Representative from Ukraine’s Children’s Railway

🔸Governance & Organizational Modernization

Hear how heritage organisations are strengthening their boards, planning for leadership succession, and building transparency that earns real stakeholder buy-in.

🔸Panel on Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

A bold conversation on how to open the doors wider—especially in volunteer-led environments. Learn how to better engage youth, underrepresented communities, and build a truly welcoming culture.

🔸Highlight: Ukraine’s Children’s Railway Inclusion in a different way.
Discover how a youth-led railway initiative is redefining inclusion in a country facing enormous challenges. A powerful reminder that inclusive practices look different in every context—but always matter.

Energy Challenges: The Future of Power in Railways & Tramways

As climate policies tighten and energy costs rise, heritage railways face growing pressure to adapt. But how do we remain true to history while responding to the demands of a sustainable future?

This thought-provoking session explores the deep connection between historic energy use and the choices we must make today—from horse-drawn trams to coal-fired steam, biofuels and beyond.

Session leader: Jaap Nieweg

• Andrew Cowie (Horse-Drawn Tramways – Isle of Man)
• Jaap Nieweg
• Steve Oates (HRA, UK)
• MEP Hannes Heide (video address)
• Commissioner for Culture (invited)

🔸 1. Historic Energy & Its Modern Lessons
We begin with a journey back in time to the horse-drawn tramways of the Isle of Man—a rare example of low-impact mobility that still operates today. What can we learn from energy systems of the past, and how might they inspire innovation now?

🔸 2. Panel: Energy, Regulation & Alternatives
Join experts from across Europe to explore the complex landscape facing the sector:

• Are CO₂ and cultural heritage inherently at odds?
• What happens if fossil fuels become inaccessible?
• How do we handle the costs of electricity, the availability of bio-coal, and the shifting sands of policy and regulation?

Expect open insights into practical challenges and bold responses from organisations actively working to adapt.

🔸 3. Open Forum: Where Are We Going?
Let’s face it together: Should the heritage rail sector work to phase out fossil fuels, or preserve them as part of living history? This facilitated discussion gives voice to a range of perspectives—from purists to pragmatists—and invites participants to co-create a way forward.

We look forward to welcoming you to these inspiring sessions! Engage in discussions, share experiences, and discover new ways to strengthen and develop your involvement in the world of railways and tramways.

Partners’ Programme suggestion

10:00
A bus will collect delegates from the front of the hotel and go to Peel on the west of the Island where there will be time to take in the sights, including the castle and perhaps visit Davidson’s Ice Cream Parlour where around 40 different flavours of locally produced Ice Cream are served, as well as hand made chocolates.

14:00
Following lunch, the bus will take us to the Calf Sound at the southern tip of the Island where we will have time for some tea and cake in the café overlooking the sound and the Calf of Man. We will hopefully see some seals and perhaps dolphins or basking sharks.

15:45
Our bus will return us to the hotel, arriving at about 16:30.

Evening for all

We will be having dinner on the Isle of Man Steam Railway’s Dining Train. It is about a 25-minute walk from the hotel to the station and you should aim to leave the hotel by 18:15 at the latest. Alternatively, you can use your Go Card to take the bus from opposite the hotel to the station at 17:51 (service 12A) or 18:11 (service 12)

18:45
Board our private train at Douglas Station

19:00
Train Departs; our main course will be served on the outward journey.

Train Arrives Port Erin. On arrival there are various options: visit the Railway Museum where volunteer guides will be available to talk about the exhibits and the railway. If it is a nice evening watch the sunset over the bay

Visit the Station Hotel Bar opposite the Station

21:15
Train Departs; our dessert course will be served on the return journey.

22:30
Arrive back at Douglas Station and return to the hotel.

A cash bar will be available throughout the train journey in both directions.

Saturday 10th

AGM 32

09:00 – 12:30 
Meeting with breaks for refreshments and lunch

On Saturday, we will focus on internal matters related to our Annual General Meeting. Among other topics, we will present updates on the progress of our new youth initiative. We will also vote on new constitution, and discussions about Fedecrail’s future will continue both during and after the meeting.

We will have presentations after our AGM: We hope to have a short presentation on the heritage rail sector from Malta.

The Role of ERA – Safety Vision for Europe’s Railways

Keynote by Josef Doppelbauer
– The importance of safety leadership and governance responsibility.
– How the ERA has shaped EU safety policy for rail transport.
– What tramways and heritage railways can learn, even if not (yet) under EU law.

Youth Group will have a meeting after Lunch at the hotel

Boardmeeting for the Board after lunch

Partners’ Programme suggestion

12:30
Return to hotel

Afternoon and Evening for all

12:30
A light lunch will be served in the hotel.

Following lunch the afternoon is free and you may wish to use your ‘Go card’ to explore parts of the Island.

A possible itinerary is:
Leave the hotel and walk or take a horse tram or service bus to Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade. Tram to Laxey, where the Great Laxey Mines Railway will be running (included with your Go Card) and you can take this followed by a short walk to view the Lady Isabella, or Laxey Wheel, the largest waterwheel in the world.

Evening for all
Depart Laxey on the mountain tram for the Bungalow where we have a very short walk to the Victory Café, our venue for dinner. Being on the world-famous TT course, the café has plenty of motorbike memorabilia as well as stunning views.
Depart Bungalow for Douglas Hotels by Bus to Laxey

Sunday 11th May

The day is free for you to do as you wish using your Go Cards. 
The following activities have been specifically arranged or are available:

10am, 11am & 12pm
Guided tours of the Steam Railway workshops, engine shed and signal box at Douglas Station. Tours last about 90 minutes and are limited to 10 participants each. Please sign up if you wish to participate.

Guided tours of the Electric Tramway Depot at Derby Castle. Tours last about 60 minutes and are limited to 10 participants each. Please sign up if you wish to participate.

Sign up during the weekend.

Lunch on your own

11:00 – 13:00
Look inside the Horse Tram Depot at Derby Castle and see the variety of different tramcars.

Manx Electric Railway museum at the MER Depot is open.

Groudle Glen Railway in operation (included in your Go Card). This is accessed via a 10 minute tram ride and then a walk down the glen. The café serves tea and cakes and provides wonderful views. If you would like to visit the railway but are unable to walk down the Glen, alternative transport can be arranged. Please sign the appropriate sheet.

Ramsey Pier is open. Opened in 1886 this is one of the longest piers in the British Isles and is currently undergoing a restoration having fallen into disuse. It is a short walk from Ramsey Electric Tramway Station

in the evening a carvery* dinner will be served at the hotel, after which there will be a talk by a local person.
*Carvery dinners are often served with vegetables and side dishes and are a popular way to serve Sunday Roast lunch in the UK.

Monday 12 May 2025

06:45 – 10:00
Breakfast is served in the lower ground floor restaurant.

11:00
Please vacate your room unless you have arranged to stay for longer

Farewell and see you next year.

Practical information

How to get to the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is easily accessible by air or sea from various locations across the UK.

The Isle of Man has great air links with many major airports situated in the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland and further afield, making travelling by air quick and convenient.

Most airlines operate daily flights to the Island with those from the UK taking as little as 30 minutes in some cases! It couldn’t be easier to reach the hidden gem in the middle of the Irish Sea. 

A frequent bus service stops outside the Ronaldsway airport terminal building travelling direct to Douglas

If you travel to the Isle of Man by sea, you’ll have the option of coming as a foot passenger or bringing a car, motorcycle or campervan.

The Steam Packet Company operates ferry services to the Isle of Man from Heysham, Liverpool, Dublin, and Belfast.

Translation through the meetings

We’ll use Wordly as our translation tool at the conference. This allows more participants to follow the dialogue via their own smartphones, tablets, or computers and theis own headphones. We’ll also expand the number of languages available from 3 to nearly 50+, enabling greater participation.

AI Translation, also called machine translation, uses artificial intelligence to automatically translate text from one language to another. It analyzes large amounts of text data to learn relationships between words and phrases, then translates new text in real-time. This has the potential to revolutionize communication across language barriers, offering benefits like lower cost and easier access. However, participants need their own equipment with headphones and an internet connection for it to work.

https://www.wordly.ai

Who should take part in this Conference? 
– Our core participants are voting delegates for Fedecrail member organisations, our team of Council Members and support officers and our existing ‘Friends of Fedecrail’. Partners are also very welcome to join us for the parallel Partners Programme and the general programme of visits following the business sessions. We warmly welcome participation by anyone who has an active role in the management and/or running of heritage railways and tramways, rail museums and rail and tram heritage organisations. The business programme is targeted at addressing subjects of interest to those playing such active roles. Conference fees for individual participants will need a ‘Friends of Fedecrail’ annual membership subscription at €25 euro per person.

Please email us if you have any questions about the conference.

conference at fedecrail.org