Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Steve Denniss.
Technical Director.
WSP.
Part 1 – Reform and rolling stock: What does the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail mean for existing rolling stock, the procurement of new rolling stock and the financial landscape of the industry?
09:40 to
13:35
Current and future rolling stock needs and challenges
09:40 to
10:10
- Current rolling stock needs and challenges
- Learnings from recent new fleet introductions and fleet cascades
- Likely challenges for future rolling stock specification and procurement to address
Speaker:
Neil Ovenden.
Head of Engineering.
Rail Delivery Group.
The vision for the role of Great British Railways (GBR) in rolling stock: long-term strategy
10:10 to
10:40
- The Whole Industry Strategy Plan is seeking to set out how rolling stock can address the objectives set out in the White Paper: decarbonisation, level access, passenger experience, simplification and performance
Speaker:
Rich Fisher.
Head of Strategic Planning – Network and Integration.
Great British Railways Transition Team.
Panel discussion: What will the impacts of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail be on rolling stock? What does reform mean for future procurement and the financial landscape of the industry?
11:10 to
12:05
- The Plan’s impact on the operation of the industry and its financial structure
- How will the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail affect the procurement of rolling stock?
- What place will private investment have and what are the main opportunities for investment moving forward?
- How can we ensure the new system is more economically sustainable?
Speakers:
Sean Croshaw.
Strategic Rail Manager.
Transport for Greater Manchester.
Paul Carrington.
Partner.
Clifford Chance.
Sinéad Walshe.
Director Infrastructure Debt.
Aviva Investors.
The future of freight: Building on progress and the development of new locomotives
12:05 to
12:35
- Building on recent progress: making rail freight more competitive than road
- Developing new locos: updates on the progress of bi mode and tri mode models
- Interaction with passenger services moving forward
Speaker:
Karl Watts.
Group President.
Rail Operations (UK).
Part 2 – Rolling stock’s role in meeting decarbonisation targets: decarbonising existing fleets, developments in manufacturing and alternatives modes of traction
13:35 to
15:20
The cost effectiveness of refurbishment vs procurement
13:35 to
14:00
Speaker:
Giles Pettit.
Associate, Rolling Stock Lead.
Arup.
Panel discussion: What are the different approaches to decarbonising existing fleets and the viability of alternatives modes of traction?
14:00 to
14:50
- How can existing fleets be decarbonised efficiently and economically?
- Where have fleets been decarbonised and what is needed to meet 2040 targets?
- Integrating existing fleets with overhead lines
- Viable alternatives to diesel: progress of hydrogen, battery, and electric trains
Speakers:
Simon Jarrett.
Engineering Assurance and Development Manager.
Chiltern Railways.
Ross Shepherd.
Chief Technical Officer.
Beacon Rail.
David Clarke.
Technical Director.
Railway Industry Association.
Part 3 – How rolling stock can drive the digitalisation of rail and practical guidance for designing and delivering new fleets
15:20 to
17:15
Case study: Merseytravel – Designing and delivering a more accessible and environmentally sustainable service
15:20 to
15:45
- The benefits of a devolved approach to procurement
- Adopting a complete system approach: train and infrastructure, the consultation process and bespoke design of trains
- Update on battery powered trains - progress of trails
Speaker:
David Powell.
Programme Director Rolling Stock.
Merseytravel.
Case Study: Introducing new trains to service – lessons learnt and best practice
15:45 to
16:10
- Update on progress of new fleet: how many are in service and customer feedback
- Ensuring a smooth entry: driver training, scheduling, and safety measures
- Key challenges and how they were overcome
- Lessons learnt
Speaker:
Charlotte Hughes.
Associate Director - Rolling Stock.
CPC Project Services.
Panel discussion: How can rolling stock contribute to the digitalisation of the railway: opportunities and overcoming obstacles?
16:10 to
16:55
- Key developments in rolling stock: latest technological innovations
- Update on deployment of ERTMS & ETCS in the UK and the benefits it has created
- How is the digitalisation of rolling stock – both exisiting and new – being incentivised?
- Main barriers to innovation and how they can be overcome
Speakers:
Karl King.
Technical & Innovation Manager.
Railway Industry Association.
David Powell.
Programme Director Rolling Stock.
Merseytravel.
Charlotte Hughes.
Associate Director - Rolling Stock.
CPC Project Services.