Brighouse 25, Hadrag 40, Northern Sparks 10 – forget “Rail 200”, we have anniversaries of our own.

40 years since we founded Hadrag. 25 years since we got Brighouse station opened. And 10 years since the Northern Sparks task force report by regional politicians and officials gave top priority to full Calder Valley line electrification – part of a programme that was to span the North. Transformation would be complete – just about all lines to be decarbonised by what is still the most energy efficient, and long-run cost-effective way of running a zero-carbon railway. Government ignored the recommendations. We founded the Electric Railway Charter to press for action. Calder Valley electrification is a clear objective of West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calderdale Council, and we’ve had a good response from the new local MPs. Recently Calder Valley electrification got a mention in Lord Blunkett’s Yorkshire rail report – with a wait measured in decades. We are not holding our breath for the imminent spending review. Batteries are not good enough in the long run but will be part of the transition. Meanwhile dirty diesels continue to trundle noisily along our tracks.

We are delighted that our friend David Hoggarth, strategic rail director at Transport for the North has accepted our invitation to be guest speaker at our 2025 annual meeting.

All train users – actual and would be – will be welcome on the morning of Saturday 28 June in the conference suite at St John’s (community hall), Rastrick, HD6 1HN, 5 minutes’ walk from Brighouse station. Doors open just after 09.30 for 09.50 start. All done before 12.30, so time to enjoy Brighouse gala afterwards! More on back page. We hope to provide refreshments – and maybe a cake to cut!