Overview
The Institution’s Railway Division is delighted to welcome Rufus Boyd, Lead Director of the Great British Railways Transition Team, to present its annual George Ramshaw Curry Lecture on March 24th, 2025.
Rufus will reflect on the end of the period of three years of GBRTT’s existence and look forward to the railway’s future as set out in the Railways Bill - Consultation Document. He will look back on what has changed in that time, including the Public Ownership Programme, and what remains the same, notably a resolute focus on the Customer, Financial Sustainability and a Retail Transformation. He will set out how the Department is seeking to sustain the capability that was developed in GBRTT while more clearly setting out the accountabilities across the sector for the next phase.
This evening lecture is free and open to all attendees. You and your colleagues are also invited to join a pre-lecture networking reception at the Institution’s historic One Birdcage Walk headquarters from 16:45. Additionally, this event follows the Railway Gauging and Clearance seminar taking place throughout the day – for more information please visit the event website.
About George Ramshaw Curry
George Ramshaw Curry was the fourth and longest serving Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association. After obtaining a First Class Honours degree at Trinity College, Cambridge and a brief spell in industry, in 1951 he joined what was then the Locomotive Manufacturers’ Association (which had been founded in 1875) as Assistant Director. He was appointed Director in 1954.
Over the next 31 years, Curry was responsible for the progressive expansion of both the scope and membership of the Association. This was reflected in the changes of title, first to the ‘Locomotive & Allied Manufacturers’ Association’, and then in 1971 to the all-embracing ‘Railway Industry Association’ - RIA. By the time George Curry retired in October 1985, RIA was stronger in terms of membership, influence and activities than ever before. Yet, in a technology-based industry, he was always conscious that it is people who make things happen. Many engineers and managers throughout the industry benefited from his personal interest in their careers.
In recognition of his immense contribution to the railway industry, George Curry was made a Companion of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in October 1985, a rare distinction awarded to those non-engineers who have rendered important services to mechanical engineering. In June 1986 he died after a brief illness.
This lecture is free to attend, book your place via this website to join this event in-person or online.
Sign-up online to attend the event either in-person or online. Joining instructions will be sent to you no later than 24 hours before the event is due to begin. If you have not received the joining instructions, please contact the Event Enquiries team at eventenquiries@imeche.org