National Rail Conference to focus on HS2’s significance

2017 is a very significant year for HS2. Royal Assent means spades in the ground and the start of what was just an idea on paper turning into something tangible. 

This means it is a big year for the whole of the rail industry, too - enabling HS2 to integrate into the rest of the network, to make the most of the connectivity opportunities and beyond that into the wider regeneration that can be realised.

Because of this significance, RAIL decided that this year’s National Rail Conference should focus on HS2 and its ability to transform Britain. We are delighted to announce that we are staging the conference in association with HS2 Ltd. Chairman Sir David Higgins will be providing the keynote speech and Commercial Director Beth West will speak about HS2’s supply chain.

To mark Royal Assent for Phase 1 to Birmingham (RAIL 822), we decided to stage the conference at the city’s new Conference & Events Centre, a stone’s throw from Birmingham New Street station. A section of our programme for the day will cover HS2’s effect on Birmingham and the surrounding area, with speakers including Bob Sleigh (Chairman of the West Midlands Combined Authority) and Laura Shoaf (Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands).

This year’s National Rail Conference takes place on June 15. Over the next few weeks, we’ll provide more details about the speakers and our sponsors who make it possible to stage this important event. In the meantime, you can find more details and book your place at www.nationalrailconference.com.