Rail Freight Group Conference 2025  |  25 September 2025 – Addleshaw Goddard, London

This event has passed - Register interest for 2026
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.
A message from the Minister
09:40  to  09:50
Speaker:
Lord Hendy CBE. Minister of State (Minister for Rail).
Plans for rail freight development and preparing for a reformed network
09:50  to  10:15
  • Supporting rail freight growth
  • Progress with freight investment in CP7
Speaker:
Guy Bates. Head of Freight Development. Network Rail.
ORR update
10:15  to  10:40
Speaker:
John Larkinson. Chief Executive. Office of Rail and Road.
Morning refreshments
10:40  to  11:10
Panel discussion: Reform and Freight – where are we now?
11:10  to  12:00
  • What are the next steps and how is rail reform progressing?
  • What does rail freight need from rail reform to support growth?
  • Ensuring freight is part of conversations about rail reform – where does freight fit in the new structures?
  • How does the rail sector need to respond to current industry uncertainties while reforms are being progressed?
Speakers:
Peter Graham. Policy & Government Affairs Director. Freightliner.
Kathryn Oldale. Head of Commercial Development. DB Cargo.
Huw Merriman. former Minister of State for Rail.
Sara Gilmore. Partner. Addleshaw Goddard.
Rail vs road – key considerations for rail freight use and what the sector needs to offer customers
12:00  to  12:25
  • What does rail freight need to offer businesses to be the best option?
  • Ambitions for using rail freight – plans for use of rail 
  • What do freight customers needs to see from rail reforms?
  • Construction and rail freight
Speaker:
Mark Grimshaw-Smith. Rail and Sea Manager. Cemex.
Networking lunch
12:25  to  13:25
The role of new rolling stock in driving growth plans
13:25  to  13:55
  • The introduction of new Class 99s – identifying what was needed to support growth
  • Improving decarbonisation and sustainability
  • The long term vision for growth 
Speaker:
John Smith OBE. CEO. GB Railfreight.
Progress with the delivery of ETCS – preparing for wider implementation and operation
13:55  to  14:25
  • What does ETCS mean for freight?
  • Progress with delivery of ERTMS
  • Fitment of existing fleet
  • Timelines for East Coast Digital Programme and how freight need to prepare for operation
Speaker:
Ed Akers. Industry Partnership Director - ECDP. Network Rail.
Afternoon refreshments
14:25  to  14:55
Panel discussion: Developing supply chains through increased usage of rail freight
14:55  to  15:45
  • Current market conditions and expected impacts on trade patterns
  • Improving connectivity and rail connections
  • Supporting the transfer of goods via rail
Speakers:
Ross McKissock. Director of Unitised. Forth Ports Group.
Gottfried Eymer. Managing Director - Rail. Nuclear Transport Solutions.
Jozef Ochwat. Commercial Manager. Port of Felixstowe.
Katy Grand. Sponsor (Freight Development) - Transpennine Route Upgrade. Network Rail.
Planning for strategic rail freight interchanges – opportunities for new interchanges and what is needed to deliver these
15:45  to  16:10
  • What do recent planning decisions mean for the development of future interchanges?
  • Planning and delivering strategic rail freight interchanges – progressing from planning to successful operations 
  • Lessons from recent development – timelines and key considerations
Speaker:
Adam Lloyd. Development Director. Tritax Big Box.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:10  to  16:20
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:20  to  17:30

*All sessions include time for Q & A* 

Want to be involved or sign up for updates? 

Fill in your details to find out more about the 33rd Annual Rail Freight Group Conference - whether it's sponsoring, speaking or attending.

Thank you for getting in contact. We will be in contact with more information shortly. If you have any questions in the mean time please call 0207 067 1597.


Enquire now