Three Train Operating Company Managing Directors will outline their views of the challenges and opportunities facing the railway at the Fourth Friday Club’s Rail in the Midlands Conference at the Modern Railways RVE exhibition on 4 November at Derby Arena.
The conference is free to all registered visitors to the exhibition, which is also open to Fourth Friday Club members too. To register, visit https://rve-expo.co.uk/register/
CrossCountry’s Tom Joyner is responsible for operations ranging from the far South West in Penzance to the Highlands of Scotland, with Birmingham New Street the hub for this complex inter-city operator. The leisure market has historically been more important for CrossCountry than other similar operations – but will the rapid bounce-back from the pandemic continue, and how can the railway make the most of growing demand for car-free leisure travel?
There are huge aspirations in the West Midlands to upgrade its complex rail network, and West Midlands Trains is at the heart of these plans. Julian Edwards will address delegates on the company’s fleet changes, timetable aspirations – and how the region could make the most of scarce capacity being released by High Speed 2 as construction starts in earnest on the new railway.
Expectation is growing that full electrification of the Midland main line could soon be announced, and if it is, Will Rogers of East Midlands Railway will be tasked with ensuring minimal disruption to services during construction and extracting the maximum potential from the programme. With a major fleet upgrade now under way, Mr Rogers will also explain how this upgrade in quality will attract more passengers to rail and help tackle climate change.
Other speakers at the conference include Network Rail North West & Central Region MD Tim Shoveller, Midlands Connect Head of Rail Karen Heppenstall, Rail Operations (UK) Chief Executive Karl Watts and Tarmac’s Head of Rail Chris Swan.
Modern Railways RVE combines the exhibition with a top-level rail conference and the popular supplier engagement event organised by Rail Forum Midlands, which this year takes place in a brand new format as RVE BigIdea. Applications are now open for RVE BigIdea, and companies wishing to participate should submit their application via the RFM website by 17.00 this Friday, 24 September.
Attendance at the Modern Railways RVE show is free to industry professionals, so don’t delay and register today at www.rve-expo.co.uk.
