RFM Gears up for First Major Conference since COVID

The Rail Forum Midlands (RFM) Annual Conference will be back this year on 20th October with an exciting line-up of speakers and a packed agenda.

The Conference is open to all RFM members and will be held in Pride Park, Derby as well as virtually for those not able to attend in person, and will bring together industry leaders and senior decision makers from across the sector to talk about four key topics; net zero, customer focus, affordability & working smarter and the creation of GBR.

The current line-up of speakers includes:

• Chris Heaton-Harris, Rail Minister
• Piers Wood, Alstom
• Steven Hart, Network Rail
• Lorna McDonald, Hitachi
• Richard Morris, CrossCountry Trains
• Stuart Calvert, Network Rail
• Ian Purdham, AmcoGiffen
• Haydon Bartlett-Tasker, Hack Partners
• Julian Edwards, West Midlands Trains
• Alistair Gordon, Keolis
• Rufus Boyd, GBR

This year’s conference will be split into two sessions:

• The Challenge: A Customer Focussed, Green and Affordable Railway
• The Opportunity: Great British Railways

Elaine Clark, CEO at RFM, said: “We are really looking forward to once again welcoming our members and industry colleagues back to our Annual Conference, and are already looking at record numbers set to attend.
We have an exciting line-up of speakers that will look at the challenges and opportunities of implementing the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, including how we deliver for our customers, the creation of Great British Railways, the affordability challenge and the role of, and opportunities for, the supply chain.”

Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Rail Minister, is the keynote speaker for this year’s Conference.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton Harris said: “Our railways kept this country moving throughout the pandemic, and it will be a pleasure to join the industry to reflect on incredible work done and look towards a positive and bright future.

“We are focused on delivering the most significant reforms on our rail network for a generation, with the creation of Great British Railways, driving towards net zero by 2050, and making our railways more modern, innovative and efficient.

“Those ambitions require close cooperation at every turn, and I’m focused on working in partnership as we build back better, stronger and greener.”

The conference will set the scene for the future of rail in the UK and RFM looks forward to engaging with the Great British Railways transition team to help deliver a sustainable, freight and passenger-focussed rail system to be proud of.

Members can reserve their places by visiting the event booking page here.

Photo credit: Department for Transport

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