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Day two of Virtual Smart Transport Conference gets underway

Transport minister Rachel Maclean is the keynote speaker for day two of a free virtual conference, held by RAIL’s sister brand Smart Transport.

Maclean will discuss the future of transport and the industry’s pivotal role in a ‘green recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 1,000 people have signed up to the Virtual Smart Transport Conference, which brings together senior public sector policymakers at national and local level, and influential private sector leaders from across the UK’s transport sector.

If you haven’t signed up for the conference yet, there’s still time to register for free entry at the Smart Transport Conference site.

By signing up the event you will get access to all of the presentations from the first day of the conference (June 8), which included presentations from business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng; Keith Williams, independent chair of the Williams Rail Review; and Huw Merriman, chair of the Transport Select Committee.

This morning’s plenary session will see Norman Baker, advisor to the CEO at Campaign for Better Transport, outlining the measures the organisation believes are needed to get more people back on public transport.

Baker, who was a Liberal Democrat MP for 18 years and served as both shadow transport secretary in opposition then as transport minister, will also give his take on the recent National Bus Strategy for England and the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. 

The opportunities presented by active travel will be looked at by Ruth Cadbury, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking.

In her role as Labour’s shadow planning minister she will also touch on the planning bill, announced in the Queen’s speech, and its implications for transport.

There will be a chance to hear an international perspective on transport strategy, with a speech from Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America, who will discuss the safety and environmental implications the US has experienced as a result of its ‘car-centric system’.

The plenary session will finish with a live panel debate featuring: Kerry McCarthy, Labour’s shadow minister for green and future transport; Richard Bruce, director of energy, technology and innovation at the Department for Transport; Lucy Mahoney, senior manager, walking and cycling at C40; and Norman Baker. 

Four breakout sessions on key topics will follow:

Full conference programme

 

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