Rail Freight Annual Conference 3-4 June
Britain has the fastest growing railway in Europe and freight is an important part of this with the rail freight industry becoming increasingly responsive to customers’ needs. The UK Government has demonstrated its commitment to rail freight with £200 million committed in the HLOS towards the development of a Strategic Freight Network and a further £132 million in TIF funding recently announced.
The Annual Rail Freight Group conference has developed into the premier policy conference in the UK for the rail freight industry, its customers and suppliers. This the 16th Annual conference focuses on growth within the rail freight industry. Day 1 examines what rail freight’s customers need from the industry and how the movement of different types of cargo can be increased; it looks at the development of the Strategic Freight Network and at how a 24/7 freight network can be achieved. Day 2 examines progress with opening up rail freight markets across Europe and looks at the planning and funding of rail freight schemes.
Key issues to be discussed:
- The Strategic Freight Network and the role of TIF funding
- The impact of rising oil prices on the long term growth forecasts for rail
- How the use of rail freight can be increased across key industries – energy, construction materials, foodstuffs
- Achieving a 24/7 railway
- Progress with rail freight policy in Europe
- Is the European rail freight market open to fair competition?
- Growing international rail freight through the Channel Tunnel
- Funding infrastructure enhancements
- The impact of the Planning Bill on major rail projects
Confirmed speakers:
Keynote address: Tom Harris MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport
Chairs: Lord Berkeley, Chairman, The Rail Freight Group and Alan Bennett, Director General, The Rail Freight Group
Patrick Rousseaux European Commission DG TREN
Bill Emery Chief Executive Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
David Kerr Commercial Director EWS
David Brewer Director General Confederation of UK Coal Producers
Simon Blake National Rail Manager Aggregate Industries
Dr Al Reinschmidt Vice-President Commercial Programs Transportation Technology Center (TTCI), USA
Alan Bennett Director General Rail Freight Group
Bart Verbeke Director, Intermodal Division P&O Ferrymasters
and Vice President European Rail Freight Customers Platform
Professor Rod Smith Future Railway Research Centre Imperial College, London
Mike Garratt Managing Director MDS Transmodal
Iain Coucher Chief Executive Network Rail
Simon Jenkins Vice President Development ProLogis Developments
Alan Curtis Managing Director ProLogis Developments
Chris Geldard Head of Rail Development ABP
Simon Pearson Head of Central Logistics Operations Asda
Lindsay Durham Head of Rail Strategy Freightliner
James Hookham Policy Director FTA
Brian Blackwell Business Planning Director HS1 CTRL
Norman Baker MP Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes
Angus Walker Partner Bircham Dyson Bell
Robbie Owen Partner and Head of Major Projects Bircham Dyson Bell
Lord Berkeley Chairman The Rail Freight Group
Tom Harris MP Parliamentary Undersecretary of State Department for Transport (DfT)
Theresa Villiers MP Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Professor Andrew McNughton Chief Engineer Network Rail
Conference Dinner
The Conference Dinner will take place on 3rd June 2008 at London Zoo, Regent's Park. Commencing with a drinks reception at 18.45, dinner will follow at 19.30. There will be an after dinner address by our guest speaker.
Dinner Guest Speaker: Stewart Stevenson MSP, the Scottish Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Minister
A conference brochure, including further details and speakers is available on our website:
The 16th Annual Rail Freight Group Conference
Rail Freight 2008
3rd and 4th June 2008, Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Programme
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