Enjoy full access to the evening drinks reception and dinner, giving you the freedom to move throughout the space, meet new contacts, and engage with key figures from the UK rail industry in a relaxed and informal environment.
Networking Dinner & Drinks Reception
High-Value Rail Industry Networking
RECEIVE A Full Delegate List
THREE COURSE DINNER AND WINE
learn more about THE DAY
transcityrail north AGENDA.
08:00 – 09:15 Registration / Breakfast / Networking / Exhibition
Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early.
09:25 – 09:27 Welcome Address
Welcome to the event. We'll be kicking off shortly.
09:27 – 09:37 Keynote - Rachel Thomas, Project Director, Transpennine Route Upgrade (invited)
09:37 – 10:02 Thought Leadership - Arup
Speaker and content details coming soon.
10:04 – 10:19 Strategic Partner - Sevadis Smart EV
Strategic partner session. More details to follow.
10:21 – 10:31 Keynote - Charlie French, Principal Client - Integration and Strategy, North of England, Network Rail System Operator
10:33 – 11:48 Refreshments / Networking / Exhibition
Grab a coffee, mid morning snack and a fist full of business cards during the first networking opportunity of the day.
11:50 – 12:00 Keynote - Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director, TransPennine Express
12:02 – 12:27 Thought Leadership - SLC Rail
Speaker and content details coming soon.
12:29 – 12:44 Strategic Partner - Mitie Group
Speaker and content details coming soon.
12:49 – 12:59 Jake Kelly, Managing Director, North West and Central Region, Network Rail
12:59 – 14:13 Lunch / Networking / Exhibition
Grab your lunch, talk to the speakers about how you can help with their challenges and network with new customers.
14:15 – 14:25 Keynote - Toufic Machnouk, Managing Director, GBRX (invited)
14:27 – 14:52 Thought Leadership - Performance and reliability: fixing the North’s most congested and fragile corridors
This session addresses the critical engineering and strategic interventions needed to fix the North’s most congested and fragile rail corridors. Industry experts will delve into targeted infrastructure upgrades, bottleneck relief strategies, and asset resilience programs designed to eliminate systemic delays. The discussion will highlight how predictive maintenance and robust infrastructure design can protect vulnerable routes against extreme weather and high-frequency wear. Participants will learn how funding allocation, route modernisation, and cross-regional collaboration are being leveraged to restore passenger trust and deliver a resilient, high-performing northern network.
14:54 – 15:04 Keynote - Rick Lawrence, Partnerships Director, Platform4
15:06 – 15:31 Thought Leadership - Digital railway in the North: signalling, traffic management, and data‑driven operations
This session explores how advanced signalling, integrated traffic management, and data-driven operations are revolutionising rail infrastructure across the North of England. Industry leaders will discuss the deployment of Next-Generation signalling technologies and European Train Control Systems (ETCS) to boost capacity and reduce delays. Panelists will examine how real-time data analytics and automated traffic management systems optimise fleet scheduling, predict maintenance needs, and improve passenger journeys. Attendees will gain critical insights into the collaborative frameworks and digital innovations required to deliver a highly reliable, safe, and modern northern rail network.
15:36 – 16:21 Post Conference Drinks Reception
Join us for post-conference drinks — a great opportunity to connect with speakers and fellow delegates.
18:00 - 19:15 Networking Drinks Reception
Continue the conversation over drinks at the evening networking reception.
19:40 – 00:15 Dinner, After Party & Networking
Round off the day with dinner, the after party, and more networking into the evening.
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