Hear from Project SPEED at Modern Railways EXPO 2022

A Class 56 during works on the Dartmoor Line reinstatement.

Visitors to Modern Railways EXPO 2022 on 22-23 November in Milton Keynes will be able to meet members of Network Rail’s Project SPEED team and hear from them at a panel session.

SPEED, standing for Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery, aims to halve the time and slash the cost of project delivery. SPEED principles have been applied to a range of Network Rail schemes, most notably the reopening of the Dartmoor line from Exeter to Okehampton, part of the Government’s Restoring your Railway scheme. The initial reopening was achieved 21 months ahead of the original programme and more than £10 million cheaper than the business case submitted. Now Network Rail is looking to roll this process out more widely across its projects.

The SPEED team will be part of the Network Rail Zone at Modern Railways EXPO 2022, setting out what SPEED means for the future of Britain’s railways, and will be available to meet visitors to the show throughout the two days. In addition, a panel session in the conference area will take place at 13.00 on Tuesday 22 November. This will provide an opportunity to hear about the work of the SPEED team and to ask questions of the three speakers:
•    Christian Irwin – Director, Rail Investment Centre of Excellence;
•    Mike Wright – Programme Management Director, Rail Investment Centre of Excellence;
•    Tim Walden – Capital Delivery Director, Southern Region.

Modern Railways Editor Philip Sherratt said: ‘The success of the Dartmoor line scheme, which won the Major Project prize at our Railway Innovation Awards earlier this year, lays the ground for improvement to project delivery across the country. It is excellent news that visitors to Modern Railways EXPO 2022 will be able to engage with members of the SPEED team, throughout the show in the Network Rail Zone and during a dedicated panel session on Tuesday 22 November.’

Modern Railways EXPO 2022 takes place on 22-23 November at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Visitor registration is free and is open now at www.modernrailways.com/expo.