Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Welcome from Addleshaw Goddard
09:30 to
09:35
Speaker:
Martin Fleetwood.
Consultant, Infrastructure Projects & Energy.
Addleshaw Goddard.
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:35 to
09:40
Speaker:
Richard Davies.
Director.
Rail Strategy and Economics.
Update on Rail Reform
09:40 to
10:05
Speaker:
Elisabeth Cuthbertson.
Director for Rail Reform.
Department for Transport.
PR23 and beyond: a platform for investment and a customer-focused railway in uncertain times
10:05 to
10:30
Speaker:
Will Godfrey.
Director of Economics, Finance and Markets.
Office of Rail and Road.
Morning refreshments
10:30 to
11:00
Panel discussion: The next steps for the rail sector - what is needed from reforms to support the industry?
11:00 to
11:45
- What is needed to support the development of the sector?
- Current challenges and how these can be navigated
- The opportunities of rail reform
Speakers:
Robert Girgis.
Director of Policy.
Rail Partners.
Robert Cook.
Policy Director.
Railway Industry Association.
Andrew Carter.
Partner.
Addleshaw Goddard.
Rail freight in 2024 – responding to growth opportunities
11:45 to
12:10
- How can rail freight maximise opportunities for growth?
- What are the challenges freight is facing?
- Reform and rail freight
Speaker:
Maggie Simpson OBE.
Director General.
Rail Freight Group.
Networking lunch
12:10 to
13:10
Panel discussion: Plans and progress with the delivery of major rail infrastructure – current project and pipeline of future development
13:10 to
13:55
- Progress and timelines for the delivery of major rail infrastructure
- What does reform mean for future delivery of schemes?
- Funding available for projects
- Demonstrating need for new infrastructure
- The role of devolution in supporting infrastructure development
Speakers:
Karen Heppenstall.
Head of Integrated Transport.
Midlands Connect.
Martin Tugwell.
Chief Executive.
Transport for the North.
Accelerating innovation and technology transformation in the rail sector
13:55 to
14:20
- Progress with digitalisation
- Opportunities for innovation
- Support for new technology
Speaker:
Dr Alan Peters.
Ecosystem Director, Rail and Stations.
Connected Places Catapult.
Afternoon refreshments
14:20 to
14:50
Panel discussion: Developing rail supply chains and improving certainty for suppliers
14:50 to
15:20
- Ensuring certainty in supply chain
- Support for SMEs and new entrants
- Shortening timelines for purchasing decisions
Speakers:
Paul McSharry.
Vice Chair; Managing Director.
RIA SME Group: Kilborn Consulting.
Martin Fleetwood.
Consultant, Infrastructure Projects & Energy.
Addleshaw Goddard.
Panel Discussion: Improving customer experience – understanding the needs of passengers to deliver an enhanced and more accessible service
15:20 to
16:00
- Identifying passenger needs – what is needed to support current travel patterns?
- Improving the accessibility of the rail network
- How can passenger experience be improved?
- The role of innovation in improving travel
Speakers:
Dan Taylor.
Senior Policy Advisor.
Transport Focus.
Caroline Stickland.
CEO.
Transport for All.
Steve Dering.
Director, Strategic Partnerships.
Direct Access.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:00 to
16:10
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:10 to
17:10