CD ROM containing:
• Copies of all speaker presentations
• Audio of all speakers presentations and question and discussion sessions
• Speaker biographies and any additional papers they have supplied


This is an important period for Britain's regional railways. The mission of the Department for Transport new railways directorate is that the network needs to start delivering far better value for money. For the regional railways, where public subsidy per passenger is highest, this inevitably raises the prospect of service cuts, higher fares and even line closures.

At the same time, Britain's cities and regions want rail networks to play a bigger role in tackling congestion and helping to deliver economic prosperity. The Passenger Transport Executives are resistant to any attempt to scale back the networks which they have developed over many years in their own areas. But with the government's ‘Future of Rail’ white paper seeking to devolve rail spending powers to the PTEs, local politicians could face some unpalatable choices.

Train operators and local stakeholders are working to build a bright future for regional rail. New franchises and new operators are now in control of the regional rail networks of Wales, Scotland and the north of England. In addition, the Community Rail Plan put forward by the Strategic Rail Authority sets out a vision of developing Britain's branch lines.

Chairs:
Chris Austin, Director of Public Policy, Association of Train Operating Companies

Christine Knights, Board Member, Rail Passengers Council

Speakers:
Peter McCarthy, Head of Rail Customer and Stakeholder Relations, Department for Transport

Chris Cheek, Director, the TAS Partnership and Editor, Rail Industry Monitor

Roy Wicks, Director General, South Yorkshire PTE and Chair, PTEG Rail Group

Bill Reeve, Head of Railway Delivery, Scottish Executive

Neil Scales, Director General, Merseytravel

John Thomas, Director of Regulatory Economics, Office of Rail Regulation

Kevin Williams, Principal Transportation Officer, Derbyshire County Council

Paul Salveson, Head of Community and Regional Strategies, Northern Rail

Tom Noach, Head of Local Operations, Greater Copenhagen Authority (HUR)