Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Strategic direction and next steps for rail decarbonisation – creating a long-term vision for a more sustainable and cost-effective railway
09:40 to
10:05
- Developing a resilient rolling stock strategy to lower emissions and improve certainty across the sector
- GBR’s role in delivering rail decarbonisation – key functions and responsibilities
- Identifying priorities for investment and new opportunities to accelerate decarbonisation
Panel discussion: How to move from the business case for decarbonisation to delivery – bridging the gap to make low-carbon rail a reality
10:05 to
10:55
- Ensuring that rail decarbonisation is financially viable – what are the returns from a low-carbon rail system?
- Navigating rising costs and financial barriers to meeting the rail sector’s net zero targets
- Scaling up green technologies to enable a faster model shift and maximise benefits
- What more support is needed to drive the net zero transition?
Morning networking and refreshments
10:55 to
11:25
Understanding what electrification is needed to deliver a net-zero railway by 2050 – progress to date and future plans
11:25 to
11:50
- Where and how will electrification be delivered? Setting a clear roadmap
- What intensively-used passenger and freight routes are being electrified first?
- Best approaches to reducing the costs of electrification
- Learning from successful electrification projects
Beyond electrification – developing rail infrastructure that can support decarbonisation and new requirements, how is the network evolving?
11:50 to
12:15
- What is the impact of decarbonisation and new green technologies on rail infrastructure?
- What upgrades and new assets are essential to deliver reliable charging?
- Aligning infrastructure with the wider energy network to ensuring whole system integration
Panel Discussion: Current and future rolling stock requirements – is the sector ready for decarbonisation and wider rolling stock needs?
12:15 to
13:00
- Understanding the current rolling stock landscape
- How are net zero targets shaping design and procurement?
- Establishing a more sustainable supply chain to meet future rolling stock needs
- Can the sector fulfil its decarbonisation ambitions? What is achievable and what are the future barriers?
Networking Lunch
13:00 to
14:00
Overcoming the main challenges facing the roll-out of battery trains across the UK: updates on trials underway and recent developments
14:00 to
14:25
- Key results and takeaways from battery trains being tested
- Achieving standardisation within the sector – considering technical specifications and infrastructure requirements
- Selecting the most suitable rolling stock and retrofit options for battery train conversion
The latest insight on alternative traction systems and new technologies that are decarbonising railway operations
14:25 to
14:50
- What options are emerging beyond electrification? The use of hydrogen, biofuels and hybrid fleets as a realistic option
- What will future rolling stock look like?
and what will work best for your needs? - Transitioning from trials to full-scale implementation – what are the barriers to deployment?
Upgrading existent rolling stock to improve sustainability and asset durability
14:50 to
15:15
- Practical steps for optimising fleet’s energy performance – what are the options?
- Integrating sustainable solutions into aging trains to reduce environmental impacts
- Enhancing rolling stock’s resilience through innovative low-carbon technologies
Afternoon networking and refreshments
15:15 to
15:45
Best strategies for low-carbon construction – reducing embodied carbon when building rail assets
15:45 to
16:10
- How can the construction process be adapted to deliver net zero infrastructure?
- Selecting the most effective low-carbon materials
- Minimising waste during development by reusing and recycling materials
- Leveraging design efficiency to cut carbon emissions
Lessons from abroad: International approaches to achieving rail decarbonisation
16:10 to
16:35
- What are others doing differently to lower carbon emissions?
- Examples of supportive policy frameworks that can accelerate change
- What can be applied to the UK market now?
Chair’s closing remark
16:35 to
16:45
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:45 to
17:30