The AREMA Educational Foundation in cooperation with the US Committee to the Watford Group of International Railway Designers is offering two young professional rail or transit employees the opportunity to gain an international perspective on rail and transit design and operations by becoming Watford Fellows for 2025.
The 2025 Watford Fellowship Program consists of two paid registrations to the 2025 Watford Conference scheduled for September 24 – 27, 2025 in the United Kingdom. The three-day conference will be held in conjunction with 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. The British rail network is undergoing significant investment including the HS2 High Speed Line, the recent opening of London’s Crossrail and regional improvements in the Midlands. The Conference will include presentations by the attendees on all aspects of railway planning including: design, and construction with an emphasis on buildings, bridge and tunnel structures; rolling stock design; and graphics/corporate identity. In addition to technical presentations, the Conference will include tours of recent infrastructure and rolling stock projects and opportunities to interact with railroaders from many countries. The program will be of keen interest to AREMA members in the Passenger/Transit, Structures, and Engineering Services Functional Groups.
The Watford Conference registration fee includes nearly all the meals during the conference, all local travel, and admission fees for conference activities. The Fellowship grant will reimburse four nights of hotel accommodation and incidental meals in the United Kingdom not covered by the registration fee. The only added cost to a North American would be trans-Atlantic air travel (could be done using airline rewards) and expenses before and after the Conference. The total value of the grant may not exceed US $2200.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for a Watford Fellowship, the applicant must:
- Be a member of an AREMA Technical Committee;
- Have not less than three years nor more than 15 years of railway industry employment as of August 1, 2025;
- Have the written approval of his/her employer to attend the Watford Conference and participate in post conference events organized by AREMA;
- Commit to paying all personal travel and transportation costs required that are not included in the Watford Fellowship grant;
- Commit to making at least one technical presentation at the Watford Conference on some aspect of railway design about a project executed by his/her employer or another railway company of which he/she has knowledge; and
- Commit to participating in an AREMA Webinar or Podcast derived from the materials obtained at the Watford Conference or make a presentation at a subsequent AREMA Conference or AREMA sponsored event based upon information obtained or observed.
- In evaluating applications, preference will be given to direct employees of a regulated rail carrier, a public or private entity responsible for providing and/or sponsoring passenger rail service, or a consultant assigned full time to a rail carrier or passenger entity.
Each applicant must complete the required application and certification form which can be downloaded from the AREMA Educational Foundation website. An important element is a “Vision Statement” that identifies the applicant’s current position responsibilities with respect to railway design and expresses a strong commitment to obtain and share knowledge with other AREMA members. Additional application materials include an employment history and at least one 150 word abstract of a presentation to be made at the Watford Conference. Successful presentation proposals will discuss the results of specific, real-world applications, including successes, failures, and lessons learned. The AREMA selection panel will evaluate all submitted materials to identify individuals which in its opinion, best exemplifies the AREMA and Watford goals. The decision of the selection panel is final with no right to appeal.
Application deadline is April 15, 2025. Selectees will be announced by May 30, 2025.
An individual awarded a Watford Fellowship will be required to execute a Grant Agreement with the AREMA Educational Foundation and is solely responsible for personal tax liabilities, if any, incurred on the value of the grant. Authorized costs will be reimbursed using an AREMA expense report. The participant is responsible for having a valid passport and UK-issued Electronic Travel Authorization.
The Watford Group was created in 1963 by British Railways to encourage the exchange of ideas and promote design excellence among its operating regions; other countries were invited to join and subsequently, over twenty nations are now eligible to send delegates to the Watford Conference. The meetings mostly occur in Europe, but have been held in Japan, Singapore and the United States. The Watford Group is one of the very few global organizations that integrate all aspects of rail transportation under the umbrella of "good design is good business."
The goals of this initiative are twofold: to broaden professional horizons of early career railroaders while enabling them to carry the AREMA brand internationally and, to add new members to the US Watford Committee that can carry on the tradition of Watford Conference participation and the educational benefits that accrue.
The Watford Group has a long-standing history with AREMA when members of Committee 6 were invited into the US committee in 1993. Today, any AREMA member can register to participate in the annual Watford Conference by contacting Watford’s US Chairperson Thomas Cornillie at Publications@ThomasCornillie.com.
To learn more about the Watford Fellowship check out our Season 2 Episode 11 Podcast with Thomas Cornillie and James Michel.