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photo: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club / sbarc.co.uk – an operator at an amateur radio station set up at the historic Midsomer Norton station during an earlier edition of Railways on the Air.
Over the weekend 26–27 September 2026 another edition will take place Railways on the Air – ROTA, an international activity combining amateur radio with railway history. The Radio Society of Great Britain recalled this year's event on 18 September. The event is coordinated by Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur Club.

ROTA is held every year on the weekend closest to 27 September. The date commemorates 27 September 1825, when the first steam-powered passenger railway ran on the Stockton–Darlington route. During the event, radio amateurs activate stations associated with railways, museums, historic stations and heritage lines.

This year's list is particularly interesting from a Polish perspective. The official list of registered stations includes HF2TRIK, identified by the location Pruszcz Gdański – Gdańsk North Port. Alongside it, several dozen stations from the United Kingdom and other countries have been registered, representing historic railways as well as small heritage and model railways.

The organizers suggest operating around 3.650 MHz, 7.150 MHz and 14.250 MHz. ROTA is not a traditional contest—the main objectives are radio activity and promoting railway heritage. Participants can submit their logs to the organizers and receive a personalized certificate of participation.

Official Railways on the Air website
2026 station list, including HF2TRIK