How the UK rail will reboot the economy: Railway Industry Association launches Annual Conference, 4-6 November

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, has announced that its flagship event, the RIA Annual Conference, will be moving online from 4-6 November 2020.

The Conference will see a stellar line up of political and industry participants, including:

• Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP (invited);
• Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP,
• Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon MP;
• Exports Minister Graham Stuart MP;
• Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, Network Rail;
• Mark Thurston, Chief Executive, HS2;
• Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman, Network Rail;
• Philip Hoare, President, Atkins;
• Sue Kershaw, MD Transport, Costain;
• Mary Grant, CEO, Porterbrook;
• Florence Eshalomi, AM MP;
• Kaspars Briskens, Head of Strategy & Development; RailBaltica
• David Hughes, Director of Strategy & Programme, TfN;
• James Bain, CEO, Worldline;
• Anna Delvecchio, Commercial Account Director, Mott MacDonald;
• Steve Butcher, Executive General Manager, John Holland Australia;

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “RIA’s Annual Conference has always been a key date in the industry’s diary, providing a space for UK rail to meet, discuss the salient issues of the day and hear from decision makers and leaders.

“With Coronavirus having such a significant impact in 2020, the railway industry is one of the UK’s economic sectors which can play a vital role in rebooting the economy, ensuring we have a world-class rail system both now –providing the connectivity the country needs as it gets back to work –and in the future.

“RIA’s Annual Conference will explore these issues, as well as provide networking sessions involving all parts of the industry. We hope you can make it.”

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Chair of Network Rail, said: “The Railway Industry Association’s Annual Conference is always an important event, offering the opportunity for rail supply businesses to engage with clients and policy makers.

“For Network Rail, it’s a great opportunity to meet with the many businesses that support our work and to discuss the key issues of importance to our rail network. This year the Conference may be moving online, but the agenda looks as good as ever and it will provide a vital opportunity for us to meet and engage, at what is such a crucial time for our railways.”

Early Bird price (members and supporters; valid until 18 September): £115 + VAT, non-members price £265 + VAT. To register for a press pass to the Conference, please email max.sugarman@riagb.org.uk

Click here for more details.

• About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has some 300 companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.www.riagb.org.uk

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