27th Annual (2019)

Rail Freight Group Conference

Identifying opportunities for growth for the freight sector

Tuesday 04 June 2019

Programme

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4th June 2019

08:45

Registration and refreshments

09:30

Chair’s opening remarks

Maggie Simpson

Director General

Rail Freight Group

09:40

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Government support for rail freight

Government ambitions for freight growth
The Government’s investment plans for freight
Benefits of rail freight to the economy

Andrew Jones MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport

10:10

CP6 - Working in partnership to deliver growth

Providing more capacity and overcoming bottlenecks
Third party investment opportunities to deliver rail improvements

Andy Saunders

Delivery Director, Freight and National Passenger Operators

Network Rail

10:40

Morning refreshments

11:10

ORR UPDATE

How ORR helps support and deliver growth for the rail sector
Supporting freight and forecasting future demand

Declan Collier

Chair

Office of Rail and Road

11:40

PANEL DISCUSSION: Industry review – the challenges, opportunities and disruptors for rail freight in 2019 and beyond

Potential industry disruptors and opportunities
How should the sector prepare and respond?
Changing trade patterns and the implications for freight
Impacts of Brexit for the freight industry and supply chains

Scott Wilding

Principle Planner for Freight Delivery

Transport for London

Simon Ives

Director

Simon Ives Ltd

12:30

Networking lunch

13:30

PANEL DISCUSSION: Operator update and plans for 2019

Growth plans and development opportunities for 2019 and beyond
Priority markets and exploring new markets

Chris Connelly

Chief Operating Officer

Direct Rail Services

14:20

The importance of rail freight in retail logistics

Environmental benefits of rail freight
The importance of rail freight in end to end logistics
What differentiates rail freight to make it the best transport choice

14:50

Using rail freight – a customer perspective

Ralph Goldney

Managing Director

Railfreight Consulting

15:20

Afternoon refreshments

15:50

Planned improvements and the opportunities for freight growth

The importance of investing in rail routes and connections
The latest update on the development of East Midlands Gateway

John Bailey

Operations Director

Maritime Transport

16:15

Development and delivery of strategic rail freight terminals and interchanges

Developing strategic rail freight interchanges
The role of strategic rail freight terminals in delivering economic growth
Improving connectivity

Mike Garratt

Chairman

MDS Transmodal

16:40

The role of rail in construction and urban logistics

Developing the freight action plan
How is urban freight changing?

17:05

Chair's closing remarks

17:15

Close of conference and networking drinks

*All sessions include time for Q & A*