Membership
MERG exists to bring together people interested in the application of electronics and computing to all aspects of railway modelling. The Group provides a forum where members suggest and discuss new ideas and improvements on the old and can seek help with their projects.
More detail on the benefits MERG membership provides are given in the other pages of this website, start from the Home page.
Membership is open to all modellers or would be modellers aged 12 and over, whatever the scale, gauge or prototype modelled, electronics are applicable to all. MERG has a membership of over 4,000, ranging from professional electronic engineers to amateur beginners, from overseas as well as throughout the UK. From age 12 to 17 members join as Young members and will become Full members on their 18th Birthday. Young membership is currently accepted from the UK only.
Meetings are held regularly by Area Groups, located throughout the UK and in some other countries and, for those not readily able to attend an area group there is also a Virtual Area Group (VAG) meeting up for live discussion via the internet. There are also a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) participating in forum discussion and virtual meetings.
Safeguarding Policy
MERG has a detailed Safeguarding Policy - we recommend you download a copy here:
Membership Fees
MERG has an annual fee payable on joining and subsequently on the anniversary of the joining date. We try to keep these fees as low as possible. To cover additional postage costs this is increased a little for members outside the UK. There is also a one off joining fee for new members.
The fees are shown in the table below.
You can join and pay by credit / debit card or PayPal using our online application process. Online payment will give you almost immediate access to our online facilities.
The new members rates are shown in the following table.
Location | Annual fee | Joining fee | Total |
Resident in UK | £24.00 | £5.00 | £29.00 |
Resident elsewhere in Europe | £26.00 | £5.00 | £31.00 |
Resident elsewhere including USA | £30.00 | £5.00 | £35.00 |
Members are expected to abide by the Group Rules, check them out here: Group Charter and Rules.
In addition to (From April 2025,following incorporation) the new rules and articles of association here
To join MERG today, complete the online application and make payment (using either Paypal or Credit/Debit Card).
Alternatively you may download and print out our application form, fill in and post to us with a cheque or postal order.
Online application
Click the button to join online:
Renewals
Existing members can renew using PayPal - via the Membership System.