Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Ryan Bown.
Principal Consultants.
IPEX Consulting.
Panel discussion: How to move from the business case for decarbonisation to delivery – bridging the gap to make low-carbon rail a reality
09:40 to
10:25
- 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
- Innovations and low carbon technologies for delivering green rail infrastructure
- What more support is needed to drive the net zero transition?
Speakers:
Kathryn Oldale.
Head of Commercial Development.
DB Cargo.
Paul Hirst.
Partner, Global Infrastructure and Head of Transport.
Addleshaw Goddard.
Understanding what electrification is needed to deliver a net-zero railway by 2050 – progress to date and future plans
10:25 to
10:50
- 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
Speaker:
Sanchay Singhal.
Practice Manager OLE.
AtkinsRéalis.
Morning networking and refreshments
10:50 to
11:20
Beyond electrification – developing rail infrastructure that can support decarbonisation and new requirements, how is the network evolving?
11:20 to
11:45
- 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
Speaker:
Steven Hart.
Associate Director – Rail Strategy & Feasibility – Rail Advisory UK.
WSP.
Panel Discussion: Current and future rolling stock requirements – is the sector ready for decarbonisation and wider rolling stock needs?
11:45 to
12:30
- 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?
Speakers:
Professor Stuart Hillmansen.
Professor of Railway Traction Systems.
University of Birmingham.
Andy Bagguley.
Fleet Services Director.
Porterbrook.
Adam Timewell.
Head of Programmes.
Rail North Partnership.
Networking Lunch
12:30 to
13:30
Battery traction highlights: GWR world record and lessons learnt
13:30 to
13:55
- Why break a record: key drivers behind the record attempt
- Technology used: the science and logic used
- Methodology: practicalities of making it happen
Speaker:
Julian Fletcher.
Technology Development Manager (Fast Charge Battery Train Trial).
GWR.
The latest insight on alternative traction systems and new technologies that are decarbonising railway operations
13:55 to
14:20
- 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?
- Transitioning from trials to full-scale implementation – what are the barriers to deployment?
Speaker:
Paul Long.
Head of T&RS Engineering.
Heavy Haul Rail.
Upgrading existing rolling stock to improve sustainability and asset durability
14:20 to
14:45
- 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
Speaker:
James Wright.
Product Manager - Decarbonisation.
Angel Trains.
Afternoon networking and refreshments
14:45 to
15:15
Best strategies for low-carbon construction – reducing embodied carbon when building rail assets
15:15 to
15:40
- 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
Speaker:
Helene Berthonneau.
Lead Environmental Sustainability Manager.
Skanska.
Lessons from abroad: International approaches to achieving rail decarbonisation
15:40 to
16:05
- 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?
Speaker:
Malini Bose.
Director - Future Mobility and Infrastructure.
KPMG.
Chair’s closing remark
16:05 to
16:15
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:15 to
17:30