Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences highlights the transformative power of innovation-driven growth and creative destruction—principles that are essential for shaping the future of the UK’s rail industry. By harnessing the collective expertise of the sector and embracing cutting-edge technology, the rail industry can accelerate the energy transition, drive operational efficiency, and deliver greater value to society.

This keynote will explore how these economic insights can inspire bold strategies and practical solutions for a more sustainable, connected, and resilient rail network.

This panel will explore current and future opportunities for light and urban rail across England, drawing on active projects and global best practices. It will emphasise how local government can be supported at every stage, from funding to delivering integrated transit systems, and highlight the importance of connecting light rail with buses and active travel to build sustainable, adaptable communities.

• Kerry Whalley, Director, Arup
  

• Rachelle Forsyth-Ward, Assistant Director of Transport Policy, Partnerships and Contracts, North East Combined Authority
• Neil Blagburn, Programme Delivery Director for the Northumberland line, AECOM
• Ian Walters, Managing Director at SLC

Grab a coffee, mid morning snack and a fist full of business cards during the first networking opportunity of the day

From predictive maintenance and digital twins to smarter timetabling and real-time customer comms, AI is moving from buzzword to backbone across the railway. This panel brings together operators, infrastructure owners, suppliers and policy voices to explore how data and automation can unlock step-change efficiencies, smoother journeys, and sustainable growth.

We’ll cut through hype to show where AI delivers today—reducing delays, optimising energy, sweating existing assets—and what’s next as connectivity, sensors and edge computing scale across the network. Expect candid discussion on governance, skills and safety, plus practical lessons from pilots and full deployments. We’ll look at how to build the business case, measure ROI, manage cyber risk, and keep the passenger at the centre of every decision.

Key themes

• Operational efficiencies: predictive maintenance, timetable optimisation, energy management
• Passenger impact: accurate information, accessibility, personalised services, safer stations
• Economic upside: capacity gains without concrete, productivity, supply chain innovation
• Enablers: data standards, procurement, regulation, interoperability, workforce skill

• Ian Puckrin, Route Infrastructure Engineer, North and East, Network Rail
• Richard Adams, Head of Architecture, Department for Transport Operators
  
  

Join us for an inspiring session where young apprentices share what drew them to the rail industry, what they love about their roles, and why they see a future in rail. Hear firsthand how real-world impact, innovation, and career progression are driving the next generation—and what the industry must do to attract and retain more young talent.

Panellists Include:

• Alexander Woods, Degree Apprentice, SYSTRA Ltd.
• Eden, Klemperer, Apprentice Civil Engineer, Arcadis
• Elaine Yip, Degree Apprentice Civil, Mott MacDonald
• Bethany Draper, Apprentice - Assistant Commercial Manager, Network Rail
  

The North of England is poised for a mass-transit step change. This session explores how light rail, tram-train and rapid transit can unlock growth, reduce congestion and emissions, and connect people to jobs, housing and education.

We’ll focus on near-term upgrades and extensions, pragmatic first moves (e.g., BRT as a fast start), and the roadmap to new tram and tram-train corridors. Speakers will share what’s working—from business case development and funding blends to public engagement, design for accessibility, and delivering visible benefits early.

Key themes

• Funding & delivery: devolved settlements, private finance/LLPs, value capture, developer contributions, and long-term OPEX.
• Digital & assets: data-led operations, condition-based maintenance, energy optimisation, and fleet renewal.
• Governance & risk: role of Mayoral Combined Authorities, collaboration with TfN, procurement routes, utilities and consents.

• Melanie Corcoran, Executive Director of Transport at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
• Ian Law, Head of Business Transformation, Supertram, South Yorkshire Future Trams Ltd
• Luke Bramwell, Head of Rapid Transit Development · Transport for Greater Manchester (invited)

Grab your lunch, talk to the speakers about how you can help with their challenges and network with new customers.

This session will explore how rail is reshaping the North of England, not just through infrastructure upgrades but as a catalyst for community cohesion and regional prosperity.

We'll examine the transformative potential of projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail, which aim to improve journey times, increase capacity, and better connect key cities such as Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle.

The panel will also discuss the social dimension of rail investment—how enhanced connectivity supports access to education, employment, and healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. In addition, we will look at how the railway community initiatives, apprenticeship programs, and volunteer efforts will be highlighted as examples of rail’s role in fostering inclusion and opportunity.

Finally, we’ll delve into the economic benefits, including rail’s contribution to local spending, job creation, and supply chain stimulation. With billions flowing into regional economies and thousands employed across the network, rail is proving to be a powerful engine for growth.

Join us as we unpack the full scope of rail’s impact across the North—from tracks and trains to lives and livelihoods.

Panellists Include:

• Sean Croshaw, Strategic Rail Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester
• Jools Townsend, CEO, Community Rail Network
• Cllr Phil Riley, Transport Lead for the Lancashire Combined County Authority