Thursday, March 28, 2024
- Advertisement -
Home Infrastructure RIA announces agenda for next Unlocking Innovation series on light rail

RIA announces agenda for next Unlocking Innovation series on light rail

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has announced the agenda and confirmed speakers for the next Unlocking Innovation event series, which will cover ‘Light Weight and Low Cost Railway’.

The five-day event series, held in partnership with RIA’s strategic partners Network Rail and UKRRIN, will run from Monday 14 to Friday 18 December 2020, and involve a range of exciting speakers from across the light rail industry and beyond.

The webinars will discuss new advances in tram systems, tram/train and light rail, the Very Light Rail (VLR) project in Coventry and the wider role VLR systems can play. It will also provide opportunities for networking after each day’s event, with a dedicated business engagement day on Friday 18 December. 

Advertisement

Confirmed speakers for the events include:

  • James Hammett, UKTram;
  • Elaine Clarke, Rail Forum Midlands;
  • Professor Clive Roberts, BCRRE;
  • Maxime Stignitto, Mott MacDonald;
  • Simon Coulthard, Alex Dodds, and Ian Ambrose, Network Rail;
  • Ian Foll, Arnold Whites Estates;
  • Nicola Small, Coventry City Council;
  • Nick Mallinson, Richard Jones and Naomi Arblaster, BCIMO;
  • Representative from the Department for Transport;
  • James Meredith, Chris Micallef, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG);
  • Julian Turner, Westfield;
  • Neil Cooney, SET Ltd.

Commenting on the announcement, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Technical Director David Clarke said: “We are delighted to announce the agenda and speakers for the upcoming Unlocking Innovation series on Light Weight and Low Cost Railway.

“Light rail schemes already provide vital connections for communities up and down our country, and with new innovations in the ‘tram train’ and ‘very light rail’ space, we could see even more schemes rolled out, with speedier delivery, lower cost and reduced carbon emissions. Given the Government’s stated ambition to look into the possible reopening of the so-called ‘Beeching lines’, this topic will be of real interest to the industry, particularly as the sector looks to ‘build back better’ post-Coronavirus.

“We are looking forward to hearing from a range of experts and policymakers who are leading the way in pioneering light rail across the UK, and for the opportunity to have dedicated networking sessions after each day. Do join us for these fascinating presentations and discussions.”

  1. The full agenda is as follows:

Monday 14 December – Advances in Tram Systems

  • Speakers include: James Hammett, CEO of UKTram; Prof Clive Roberts, Director of BCRRE; Elaine Clarke, CEO of Rail Forum Midlands. Elevator pitches from: Maxime Stagnitto of Mott MacDonald and UK Operations Director at STECONFER, David Bailey.

Tuesday 15 December – Tram/Train and Light Rail

  • Speakers include: Simon Coulthard, Network Rail lead on light rail; Nicola Small, Coventry City Council; Ian Foll, Operations Director of the Arnold White Estates. Elevator pitches from: Mike Orange, Director of Cecence and Mike Gray, Firstco’s Managing Director.

 

Wednesday 16 December – The Very Light Rail vehicle programme – Coventry Shuttle

  • Speakers include: James Meredith and Chris Micallef of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG); and a representative for the Department for Transport (TBC). Elevator Pitches from: Noel Dolphin from Furrer+Frey AG and Dr Chris Hardwick from RSRG.

Thursday 17 December – The wider Very Light Rail system

  • Speakers include: BCIMO Chief Executive Nick Mallinson; Neil Cooney, Technical Director at SET Ltd; and CEO of Westfield Technology Group, Julian Turner. Elevator Pitches: session will hear from: Graham LEE, WMG and Colin Robbins from Nexor.

Friday 18 December – Business engagement day

  • Speakers include: Alex Dodds and Ian Ambrose from Network Rail; Prof Clive Roberts from UKRRIN, and Richard Jones and Naomi Arblaster from BCIMO.

Click here for more details.


For today’s rail news from railbusinessdaily.com click here.

image_pdfDownload article

Most Popular

DRS takes delivery of 25 new JNA-Z box wagons from VTG Rail UK

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has taken delivery of a fleet of 25 brand new JNA-Z box wagons from VTG Rail UK, the country’s leading...

SYSTRA employee named one of Planner Magazine’s Women of Influence 2024

The Planner Magazine has selected Jenny Jefferies, Technical Expert - Consents at SYSTRA, as one of its Women of Influence for 2024. Jenny, who is...

ORR review leads to 50 per cent reduction in maximum fees for ticket refunds

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has announced that, thanks to new rules, the maximum fee that train operators and ticket retailers can...

East West Rail to hold drop-in events ahead of statutory consultation

East West Railway Company (EWR) will hold a series of information events in May, helping people to understand how the formal application process to...
- Advertisement -