CONFERENCE DELEGATE PASS - TransCityRail South 2026

Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early.

Welcome to the event. We'll be kicking off shortly.

Investment in transport infrastructure is about far more than railways and stations. It is about creating opportunity, unlocking economic growth, supporting housing and regeneration, and connecting people to jobs, education and services. Drawing on insights from the Growing Places report and examples from across the UK rail network, Joanna Grew will explore how investment in stations and integrated transport can act as a catalyst for place-making, productivity and long-term economic value.

The session will also examine the increasingly important role of combined authorities, both established and emerging, in shaping regional growth and investment priorities. Using examples from major growth areas such as Bristol and Oxford, Joanna will discuss how transport hubs can become focal points for investment, innovation, housing delivery and economic development, helping create thriving places that deliver benefits far beyond the railway itself.

As the rail industry embraces rapid digitalisation, operational excellence and safety are increasingly shaped by the software that
underpins both people and infrastructure. This panel brings together experts from across operations, signalling, workforce technology, and infrastructure management to explore how next‑generation digital platforms are transforming the way the South’s rail network is planned, staffed, maintained, and safeguarded.

Today’s railway relies on more than hardware—it depends on real‑time insight, intelligent automation, and the seamless connection between workforce systems and signal infrastructure software. From advanced rostering and fatigue management tools that protect staff and enhance compliance, to digital asset and signalling platforms that improve reliability, reduce risk, and support data‑driven maintenance, the future of performance lies in integration.

Jennifer Hudson (BA, MBA) is Managing Director at Transmission Dynamics, and Prof. Jarek Rosinski is Founder and Executive Chairman of Transmission Dynamics discuss predicting the unpredicable

Foundations for growth of High Speed Rail

 Fast and reliable High Speed rail services continue to support the economy of the South East and provide connections to Europe.  Having past it's 20th birthday, the High Speed One line is embarking on a programme of assets renewals whilst preparing for growth in the system, new trains, new European destinations and the enhancements which will enable this.

Grab a coffee, mid morning snack and a fist full of business cards during the first networking opportunity of the day.

Rick Lawrence, Partnerships Director at Platform4, will present a morning keynote on how infrastructure-led regeneration is transforming surplus railway land into thriving communities. Representing Network Rail's newly integrated property company, he will outline Platform4’s ambitious national roadmap to unlock 40,000 homes and 10 million square feet of commercial space over the next ten years. He will discuss how planning and investment reforms can accelerate station development, maximizing the societal and economic value of brownfield assets. Highlighting key regional opportunities across the south, Rick will address how Platform4 is actively assembling land and collaborating with both public and private sectors to drive investment. Finally, he will outline critical pathways for supply chain partners, local authorities, and developers to engage with these long-term placemaking projects to deliver sustained community growth.

Speaker and content details coming soon.

Speaker and content details coming soon.

David McKenna will present the London Underground and Elizabeth Line Renewals report, focusing on five key statutory areas. The update covers authority requests for capital funding, progress on track maintenance and lifecycle assessments, rolling stock and signalling achievements, risk mitigation, and program benefits such as improved reliability

Grab your lunch, talk to the speakers about how you can help with their challenges and network with new customers.

Chrisma Jain, Head of Innovation at Network Rail High Speed, will explore how cutting-edge technology and digital transformation are reshaping high-speed rail infrastructure. She will discuss utilising HS1’s independent technical authority to accelerate product acceptance, allowing suppliers to trial and deploy innovative solutions faster. A core focus will be the transition from manual checks to automated intelligent inspection, highlighting the rollout of forward-facing train cameras, drones, satellite imagery, and acoustic sensors to predict track defects and enhance climate resilience. Finally, she will address the critical need to bridge the rail skills gap by upskilling the workforce in data analytics, while championing industry diversity to attract the next generation of technical engineering talent.

As digital connectivity becomes a core expectation for passengers and a critical enabler of modern railway operations, the UK rail industry faces mounting pressure to deliver reliable, resilient, and high‑capacity communications across the entire network. This panel explores the systems, infrastructure, and collaborative approaches needed to build a truly connected railway—one that supports operational excellence, enhances customer experience, and prepares the network for future technology demands.

Alex Hynes, Chief Executive of the Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), will outline the strategic roadmap for transitioning the UK’s passenger rail network into public ownership under Great British Railways (GBR). He will discuss the critical work being done to unify track and train operations, stripping away structural fragmentation to create a more integrated transport network. A core focus will be the ongoing migration and management of major southern franchises—including Southeastern, South Western Railway, and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)—into the public portfolio. He will share how this centralised model is actively delivering tangible improvements for passengers through optimised timetabling, simplified ticketing, and reduced cancellations. Finally, he will highlight how the DFTO is working alongside regional transport authorities and the supply chain to foster local network growth, open up procurement pathways, and accelerate the deployment of high-impact digital innovation.

From AI‑driven maintenance and digital twins to automation, electrification, data‑enhanced operations, and sustainable engineering, this
panel will provide suppliers with direct insight into the innovations driving record investment across the region. This discussion offers a rare, focused
platform to understand upcoming digital and capital programmes, procurement plans, and future skills needs—straight from the organisations delivering them.

Join us for post-conference drinks — a great opportunity to connect with speakers and fellow delegates.

Continue the conversation over drinks at the evening networking reception.

Round off the day with dinner, the after party, and more networking into the evening.