UK rail has long been a pioneer for new technologies and innovations. Yet, as the world enters a new age of digital connectivity, data and AI, it is vital that rail is able to keep up with emerging technological trends. Whether in the areas of digital signalling, data and AI or smart ticketing and retail, there is much more that can be done to ensure rail is fit for the future.
With Control Period 7 beginning and a General Election in 2024, now is the time to get started. The next decade will be pivotal – rail will need to focus on how it can make better use of data and AI, switch to digital signalling systems and deliver a modern fares system, in order to ensure the network is future ready. The coming ten years should be a ‘Digital Decade for Rail’.
The Digital Decade for Rail Summit is a new event organised jointly by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the rail supply community, and Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), the industry association for transport technology. It will seek to provide industry with views from leading decision makers in the rail sector and to gather industry views in order to kick-start the ‘Digital Decade for Rail’ campaign, a new initiative to promote a digital future for UK rail.
The Summit will take place on Wednesday 27 September from 10am to 3pm at the Derby Museum of Making. The day will cover three key themes: 1. Digital Signalling 2. Data & AI and 3. Smart ticketing and Retail
The first half of the Summit will involve a number of keynotes from decision makers in the sector, such as Network Rail, GBRTT and Transport for London. Then, the second half will involve a workshop to gather insights from attendees for the new campaign – ‘The Digital Decade for Rail’.
Join us for what is set to be a key event for the UK rail sector, to kick-off the Digital Decade for Rail.
10.00 Doors Open
Teas, coffees and refreshments served. Networking.
10.30 Welcome from ITS UK and RIA
10.40 Keynote 1: Digital Signalling
11.00 Keynote 2: Smart ticketing and Retail
11.20 Keynote 3: Data & AI
11.40 Break
12:00 Panel 1: The Industry Response
12.50 Overview of Breakout Sessions
13:00 Lunch & Networking
13:45 Breakout Sessions , covering:
14:15 Breakout Sessions 2, covering:
14.45 Reporting Back & Concluding Remarks.
15:00 Event Ends
Lauren Sager Weinstein, Chief Data Officer, Transport for London (TfL)
Lauren Sager Weinstein, Chief Data Officer, at Transport for London (TfL), leads TfL in using our vast amounts of system data to transform how TfL plans and operates transport in London. Lauren created TfL’s Data and Analytics department, building a team of data scientists, data software developers, and analytics translators who provide data tools for TfL to understand customer travel behavior, and analytic tools to operate and plan London’s vast transport network. Her team’s analysis was instrumental during the challenges during Coronavirus, providing TfL, London city officials, UK Government, and the public with information about how travel changed during the Pandemic. Lauren joined TfL in 2002 and she’s held a variety of roles, working on many projects, including the launch of the contactless payment system across London’s transport network. Originally from Washington, DC, USA, she has degrees from Princeton University and from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, who awarded Lauren the 2019 Alumni Award for Digital Innovation. Lauren was named the 2017 UK Chief Data Officer of the year by the CDO Club, and was honoured to be included in The Female Lead’s 20 role models in Data & Technology 2017.
Toufic Machnouk, Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway
Toufic Machnouk is Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway where he is leading a pioneering cross-industry partnership to create and deliver the next generation railway enabled through digital train control technology.
This represents a once in a generation modernisation of the railways in Great Britain to a safer, higher performing, more resilient, better skilled, more productive, and greener railway, delivering passenger benefits in the areas of safety, punctuality and resilience, and taxpayer benefits in the areas of reduction in infrastructure unit and whole life costs.
The first major programme is on the east coast mainline, a primary economic artery, which has been established in an innovative user centric industry and commercial partnership model that is the vanguard for digital train control technology deployment on the national railway network.
Having started his career in infrastructure operations, he went on to deliver major projects and programmes. His teams have been recognised for breakthroughs in safety performance, innovation, industry and supplier collaboration, and successfully delivering complex cross-industry change, receiving prestigious national awards.
He is passionate about open innovation and user centric design thinking, speaking at universities and colleges, and mentoring people from across the industry. He holds a degree in Design Engineering and an executive MBA from the University of Bath. He was awarded the prestigious Collaborative Leadership Award by the Institute for Collaborative Working.
Neil Shah, IT & Digital Director, Arriva UK Trains
Neil Shah is the IT & Digital Director at Arriva UK Trains with a remit that ranges from core operational IT through to the digital customer experience. Neil is responsible for developing Arriva UK Trains’ digital, data and technology strategies in order to support the business strategy. Neil is passionate about driving step change in IT, Digital and Data capability along with people development.
With over 22 years’ experience, Neil is a digital strategy, transformation and change leader with experience working across the entire business, product, commercial and programme lifecycle. Neil has been at Arriva for nearly 6 years, starting in the UK Bus business and now in the UK Trains business. Previous industry experience includes travel & tourism, retail and shipping & logistics meaning Neil hopes to bring external best practice to the transport industry.
Matt Peake, UK Policy Director and Government Relations, Trainline
Matt is Director of UK Policy and Government Relations at Trainline. Prior to Trainline, he led the global policy team at Onfido, the UK-based digital identity scale-up specialising in AI and biometrics. He has previously held tech policy-focused roles at Verizon, Ofcom and the Home Office. Matt holds a law degree, exec MBA, post-graduate diploma in Competition Law from Kings College and diploma in Business International Relations and the Political Economy from the LSE. He is married with three children.
Martin Howell, Director of Transport Markets, Worldline UK&I
Martin Howell is Director of Transport Markets, UK and Ireland for Worldline, and leads their work in smart mobility and strategy for transport. He was previously vice president at Cubic Corporation in San Diego. He spent 12 years with Cubic Transportation Systems, in operations and business development, as well as leading the company’s customer engagement, external relations and interfaces with government. His previous roles have included business development at HP Enterprise, before which he served as an officer in the Royal Marines Commandos.
Professor Clive Roberts, Director of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, University of Birmingham
Clive is Professor of Railway Systems and Deputy Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He is Director of the University’s Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, which has over 120 researchers, academics and staff. He works extensively with the rail industry and academia in Britain and overseas, on research and innovation themes which span the railway system, transport systems and associated technologies.
Clive leads a broad portfolio of research aimed at improving the performance of railway systems, including leading the UK Railway Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN), a £92M academia/industry collaboration, as well as initiatives to encourage SMEs to work in the rail sector. In 2017 his group was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education for supporting the UK and international railway industries. His main research interests lie in the areas of railway systems research including: railway simulation, future control strategies, traffic management and operations, condition monitoring, data integration and cybersecurity, power system design and energy efficiency, and overall system integration.