Rail Freight Group Conference 2023   |   5 October 2023 – London

Registration and refreshments
08:45  to  09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30  to  09:40
Speaker:
Maggie Simpson OBE. Director General. Rail Freight Group.
Part 1: Supporting growth for rail freight – opportunities and areas for investment
09:40  to  12:30
Keynote address: Support for rail freight growth
09:40  to  09:55
Speaker:
Huw Merriman MP. Minister of State (Rail and HS2). Department for Transport.
Great British Railway’s vision and role for the rail freight sector
09:55  to  10:20
Speaker:
Richard Moody. Programme Director for Freight Reform. Great British Railways Transition Team.
ORR update: supporting rail freight development
10:20  to  10:45
  • Progress with PR23
Speaker:
John Larkinson. Chief Executive. Office of Rail and Road.
Morning refreshments
10:45  to  11:15
Change in rail freight
11:25  to  11:50
  • The reality of delivering change
  • Why it is hard in rail freight
  • How we can fix that
Speaker:
Julie Nerney. Interim Managing Director, Rail. Nuclear Transport Solutions.
Panel Discussion: Growth plans and investment in rail freight – developing supply chains
11:40  to  12:30
  • Investment in rail freight 
  • What is needed to support supply chain development?
  • Deciding on using rail freight vs other options
Speakers:
Andrea Pearson. Deputy Director, International Rail and Rail Freight. Department for Transport.
Mark Hooper. UK Business Development Manager (BCO’s & Inland). DP World.
Chris Swan. Head of Rail UK & Europe. Tarmac.
Networking lunch
12:30  to  13:30
Part 2: Changing planning policy impacting freight and opportunities for strategic rail freight interchanges
13:30  to  14:55
Navigating the Planning Act 2008 regime – how to secure a development consent order
13:30  to  14:00
  • Planning Act 2008 and SFRIs
  • Requirements and timelines  
  • NSIP reforms and plans to speed up the process
Speaker:
Francis Tyrrell. Planning Partner. Addleshaw Goddard.
Opportunities with newly developed strategic rail interchanges
14:00  to  14:25
  • Plans and timelines
  • Future investment
Speaker:
Michael Solomon Williams. Campaigns Manager. Campaign for Better Transport.
Afternoon refreshments
14:25  to  14:55
Part 3: Investment in rolling stock and wagons
14:55  to  16:30
Current investment and plans for rolling stock
14:55  to  15:20
  • Recent procurement of class 99
  • Plans for future procurement
  • Identifying requirements
Speaker:
David Golding. Asset Director. GB Railfreight.
Revolutionising rail freight with digital intelligence
15:20  to  15:50
Speakers:
Colin Denman. Managing Director. VTG Rail.
Sanjay Albert. Director of Engineering & Innovation. Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems.
Improving sustainability and supporting decarbonisation of freight rolling stock
15:50  to  16:15
  • Innovations underway to support improved sustainability, and reduce emissions
  • Investment in freight
Speaker:
Sam Gillert. Account Manager. Eversholt Rail.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:15  to  16:25
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:25  to  18:00

*All sessions include time for Q & A* 

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