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Keep up to date with the latest pensions news and developments in the Scheme.

Trustee elections might not sound exciting at first glance, but they’re a vital part of how the Railways Pension Scheme (RPS) is managed and how decisions are made on behalf of members.

2026 Trustee elections

The Trustee Board is made up of 16 Directors:

• 8 Directors represent employees and pensioners, and
• 8 Directors represent Scheme employers
  

This year, 6 Trustee Directors will reach the end of their current terms of office. We will invite eligible organisations to nominate people to fill these vacancies in the coming months.

The existing Directors can choose to stand again if they want to and if they have the support of a nominating body.

How do the elections work?

You can join the Board in 2 ways: as an Employer Director or an Employee/Pensioner Director.

Each route works a little differently.

Employer Directors

Employer Directors are nominated and elected by the employers within 4 electoral groups:

• Network Rail (2)
• Passenger Train Operating Companies (3)
• Freight Train Operating Companies and Support Services (2), and
• All Employers (1)
  

If you want to stand, your employer would need to nominate you and support the time you’ll need to carry out Trustee duties. If more people are nominated than there are vacancies, an election will take place and employers in that electoral group will vote for their preferred candidate.

Employee and Pensioner Directors

Employee and Pensioner Directors are nominated and elected by organisations representing Scheme members:

• Your Trade Union
• British Transport Police Federation
• Pensions or Management Committee
• The British Transport Pensioners Federation
• Retired Railway Officers Society
  

If these organisation put forward more than 1 valid nominee, employees and/or pensioners vote in a secret ballot. The nominees who receive the most votes join the Board.

Key dates

Member nominations and elections

• Nominations open: Friday, 30 January
• Nominations close: Friday 27 March

Employer nominations and elections

• Nominations open: Wednesday, 8 April
• Nominations close: Friday, 1 May

Find out more

You can learn more about the current Trustee Board by visiting the dedicated page of this website.

To understand what the role involved and how the Boards operates, head to the roles and responsibilities page.

For details on the application process, what being a Trustee entails, and information about the Future Trustee Candidates Programme, visit the future Trustee page.