Community Rail is beginning to be recognised as a key delivery agent for the Big Society, Network Rail are developing their ‘Alternative Solutions’ RUS and the whole package is supported by the McNulty Report. 

It’s clear however, that the railway industry – and by association, the Community Rail sector – are now being called to account. A recent presentation by Philip Hammond suggested that if the industry cannot reduce costs and increase efficiency, network surgery may be required as a last resort.

In the light of the McNulty report, the key focus should of course be on cost reduction. Many Community Rail Partnerships are majoring on increasing passenger numbers but finding cost reduction rather more difficult, due to many of the issues raised by McNulty.  As a result, a number of colleagues share our concern that the Community Rail Development Strategy is not being used to its full potential. 

The aim of this conference therefore, is to explore current practices and costs and find deliverable alternatives to them.   It will not be just a talking shop, we have invited speakers who are radical thinkers, who carry weight within the industry and who will be able to help drive the agenda forward

Speakers

Chris Austin, ACoRP:
How can we exploit the potential of CR Designation? - Innovative Franchise Models, Opportunities for local ownership or governance, Multi-mode franchises.
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Tim Burleigh, Relationship Development
Manager, Eversholt Rail Group:
How can we make better use of existing rolling stock fleets?
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Anna Walker, Chair, Office of Rail Regulation:
'Sector Change - Regulatory futures'
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Andrew McNaughton, Special Professor of Rail Engineering, Notts University:
Radical change is entirely possible
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Jerry Swift, Network Rail:
Innovative ways of looking at infrastructure- Why is it so expensive to build things? How do we make things easier to do and more affordable
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