THE Mayor of Durham, Councillor John Wilkinson, will welcome well known railway heavyweights to a meeting in the Town Hall this weekend.

This year's Railfuture National Conference and annual general meeting is being in the city on Saturday.

Writer and commentator Christian Wolmar will be attending, along with Alex Nelson, whose travel and ticket company, Chester-le-Track, has won huge acclaim, and Andy Rogers, who is responsible for bringing Britain's next generation of inter-city passenger trains into being from the new Hitachi factory at Aycliffe.

Business Durham’s managing director Stewart Watkins said: "We are sponsoring the event in recognition of the strategic importance of the rail industry and manufacturing to our local economy.

The mayor, who will join Railfuture's chairman Dr David Berman in greeting delegates from across the country, is expected to refer to the region's extensive railway history.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the conference which starts at 11am. Admission is free. Enquiries should be emailed to: Anthony.walker@railfuture.org.uk