Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early

Following the scrapping of the Northern legs of HS2, what and where is the £19.6 bn being invested in the North? It was stated that a brand-new station and line connection be built in Bradford, for the purpose of reducing journey times from 56 to 30 minutes to Manchester via Huddersfield. Listen to Simon talk about the opportunities and where does Greater Manchester go from here.

• James Webster, Director System Integrations, Atkins Realis
  

Speakers TBC

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

The importance of Rail to the Northern Economy

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

This panel discussion will explore what is needed to ensure the railway of the future delivers for customers and economic growth – both nationally and regionally. They will talk about the need for a customer-focused mindset to transform our railway as well as finding innovative solutions to the challenges along the way. Furthermore, with high-speed rail on the horizon, the panel will discuss the role it can play in driving future growth and what is needed to make it a success.

• Shamit Weinburger Gaiger, Managing Director, West Coast Partnership Development
• Andrew Dixon, Head of High Speed Rail - Infrastructure Delivery & Development Programme, Manchester City Council
• Phil James, Route Director North West at Network Rail
  
  

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE will share his vision for the future of our railways and infrastructure. This is a unique opportunity for the supply chain to be part of a transformative journey that aims to enhance railway performance through greener transport, better integrated transport networks, infrastructure that benefits the nation and reform to revolutionise and reshape the rail industry for the better.

Kevin’s will introduce the background and context that led to the introduction to Design for Reliability (which is a mandated part of Product Acceptance required for all controlled products introduced to the Rail Infrastructure) before giving an overview of the DFR process, what it actually means for suppliers and finally signposting them towards the support that is available.