Beyond the Rails - Events

Join leading industry experts for a series of essential conversations and events celebrating 200 years of the opening of Stockton & Darlington Railway—the world’s first modern railway. 

Navigating three key themes of people, place and performance, our 2025 events programme includes a dynamic series of panel discussions, live conversations and roundtables covering: 

• Customer focus: Improving passenger experiences for all. 

• Financial sustainability: Adapting growth strategies, enhancing affordability and safeguarding the future. 

• Devolution in a national network: Redefining how the railway works for a more agile and responsive rail network. 

• Decarbonisation: Rail’s role in creating sustainable economies and communities. 

• High-speed rail: Learning from experiences across the globe to chart what happens next. 

• Entrepreneurism and innovation: Creating the space for creativity, action and investment. 

• Investment and private sector: Unlocking opportunities for public-private collaboration. 

• Equipping the industry: Securing the insights, skills and culture to succeed and evolve. 

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As Britain’s rail industry reaches a pivotal moment, the question isn’t just how we address the current financial challenges, but how we prioritise funding and spending to drive improved customer experience and revenue growth, deliver economic growth, and achieve a more financially sustainable rail industry.

With the first of the remaining DfT-contracted Train Operating Companies (TOCs) transitioning to public ownership this May, and the Comprehensive Spending Review concluding in early June, critical decisions lie ahead that will shape the future of the industry, the network and its services.

In this live conversation, we explored the financial pressures facing Britain’s railways and the potential impact of structural and funding reforms.

We covered:

• Key financial pressures: From post-COVID revenue recovery, costs of operating and maintaining the network and services, delivering key enhancements and fares reform.
• Spending priorities for the future: What are the strategic goals for the rail industry—and how could the outcome of the Spending Review and the role of devolved authorities influence where investment is directed?
• Getting the balance right: where does Government invest taxpayers’ capital and support, and where could or should it explore more radical alternatives to the structure, size and operation of the network?
• The wider impact: How financial decisions will shape customer experience, the wider mobility system, and the growth and contribution of the rail sector.

This session is ideal for transport policy leaders, rail professionals, economists, and stakeholders in public infrastructure and finance. Whether you're involved in operations, government, or strategy, you’ll gain timely insights into the financial future of Britain’s rail network.

Meet the speakers

Paul Plummer, Professor in Rail Strategy, Director of University of Birmingham Centre for Rail Research & Education (BCRRE) and Academic Lead, UK Rail Research & Innovation Network (UKRRIN)

Paul’s key areas of research focus include the transport system from a customer experience and mobility perspective, including the implications for public policy. He is also a member of GB Rail Technology Leadership Group (TLG) and Rail Supply Group (RSG), Vice Chair of UIC Alliance of Universities in High Speed Rail (AUHSR) and International Rail Research Board (IRRB). Formerly CEO at Rail Delivery Group (RDG), Group Strategy Director at Network Rail, President of European Infrastructure Managers (EIM) and Chief Economist at the Rail Regulator (ORR), he is also working as non-executive director and as a mentor.

Tessa Wordsworth, Associate Director, Steer

Tessa has 30 years’ experience in the rail industry, both in consultancy and working for a train operator and secondments to the Strategic Rail Authority, the Department for Transport and GBRTT. She has provided advice on rail passenger franchise transactions, scheme appraisals, cost benchmarking, ex-post evaluations of investments and assessments of how to improve the financial position of the rail industry. 

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Meet the speakers

Sir Andrew Haines OBE, CEO, Network Rail

Andrew joined Network Rail in August 2018 and has since refocused the organisation on being on the side of passengers and freight users; easy to engage with as an efficient and dependable partner; a company people are proud to work for; and be instinctively recognised as an industry leader. Prior to joining Network Rail, Andrew served as Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority from 2009. This followed a wide-ranging career in the rail industry, which included roles as Managing Director of South West Trains, and Managing Director of the Rail Division for First Group plc. Following the publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in May 2021, Andrew was also tasked with establishing interim arrangements for the creation of Great British Railways, alongside his role in Network Rail.

Shamit Weinberger Gaiger OBE, Managing Director, West Coast Partnership Development 

Shamit was appointed the Managing Director of WCPD in 2022. She has an extensive career in rail, having held roles at the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and at National Skills Academy for Rail as well as leading the Rail Sector Deal on behalf of HM Government at the Department for Transport. She also is the Chair of Trustees at Campaign for Better Transport and President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s (CILT) Railway Study Forum. Furthermore, Shamit sits as non-executive director of Women in Rail.

Tim Shoveller, CEO, Freightliner Group

Tim Shoveller became CEO of Freightliner Group in August 2023. Tim was previously Managing Director of Network Rail’s North West and Central Region. He started this role in June 2019 after moving from Stagecoach, where he was MD of the rail division and prior to this MD of South West Trains where he led the development of the Alliance working with Network Rail. Earlier in his career, Tim was MD at East Midlands Trains from the start of the franchise in 2007. Earlier career highlights include senior roles at Virgin Trains and Eurostar. Tim has over 30 years’ experience in the rail industry, initially joining British Rail as a Guard at Guildford. He is Chairman of the Railway Benefit Fund charity, which supports current and former employees and their families. Tim is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators.

James Bain, CEO, Worldline UK & Ireland

James started his career with Virgin Trains in 1999, where he implemented the UK’s first on board EPOS system. James moved through various roles, including Revenue Management and Commercial bid planning. In 2007, James moved to Arriva Cross Country where he was Director of Revenue, with responsibility for all pricing, revenue management, demand forecasting and ticket retailing. In 2010, James founded redspottedhanky.com to retail train tickets online, before moving to work for Atos Origin. In 2012, Worldline was carved out of Atos where James lead the UK separation. 

Julia Prescot CBE, Co-founder Meridiam and Deputy Chair National Infrastructure Commission

Julia is Co-Founder of Meridiam Infrastructure. She is a member of the UK Investment Council and is Co-Chair of the Global Infrastructure Facility, a G20, World Bank and multilateral bank-promoted organisation. Julia is Chair of the Fulcrum Infrastructure Group, Chair of Neuconnect Limited, Deputy Chair at the Port of Tyne and a non-executive director of Allego NV, an electric car charging company. Previously, she has held a number of other national and international non-executive director positions. She is an Honorary Professor at the Bartlett School, University College London. She was also the co-founder of the Women Leaders in Infrastructure Group.

Richard Harper, Head of Rail Advisory, Steer 

Richard is a respected industry leader with over 30 years’ experience driving change through collaboration. He specialises in developing, contracting, and delivering complex rail projects, unlocking solutions through strong communication and negotiation. Before joining Steer, he spent 17 years with train operators and TOC owning groups, gaining extensive rail bidding experience. Notably, he led timetable and rolling stock teams for successful Northern and London Overground bids and played a key role in Chiltern Railways’ Evergreen enhancements, including the Oxford line.

About the event

Railways across the globe have been heavily influenced by entrepreneurs and evolved with important innovations.  

So, how does Britain best continue to grow and secure the entrepreneurial spirt and space to innovate? How should the Government grow its collaboration with the private sector to foster creativity, investment, and a thriving economy? And what about elsewhere in the world? 

In front of a live audience, our panel of rail industry heavyweights covered: 

• Innovation: The railway advancements that are shaping the future through creativity and investment 
• Government and private sector collaboration: How policies, partnerships, and funding models are unlocking innovation and economic growth 
• Learning from history: Which successful technological advancements and entrepreneurial ventures have had the biggest impact on the sector?  

Who should watch: 

• Rail industry leaders and innovators: Professionals driving change in railway technology, operations, and business development. 

• Entrepreneurs and investors: Startups, venture capitalists, and private sector leaders looking to collaborate and invest in railway innovation. 

• Government and policymakers: Officials shaping transport policy and public-private partnerships to support economic growth. 

• Academics and researchers: Experts in transport, engineering, and innovation keen to explore emerging trends and opportunities in rail. 

Passengers' needs and expectations are constantly evolving, and ensuring their satisfaction requires continuous engagement, robust data, and strong advocacy.

Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, conducts in-depth research to identify pain points in the passenger experience and develop evidence-based solutions that influence policy and industry action.

In this essential conversation, we explored what needs to be done to influence decision-making to secure improvements and create better rail experiences for passengers, workers, and road users.

Key takeaways:

• Understanding passenger pain points – Passengers value reliability, affordability, and accessibility, but challenges remain in service consistency, ticketing complexity, and network capacity.
• The evolving policy landscape – Industry reforms, including potential shifts in rail governance and ticketing models, have significant implications for customer experience.
• Collaboration for change – Operators, policymakers, and advocacy groups must work together to drive improvements, ensuring the railway remains responsive to passenger needs.
• Trust and transparency – Passengers need clearer communication and greater transparency in decision-making to regain trust in the system.

Meet the speakers 

Alex Robertson, CEO, Transport Focus 

Alex joined Transport Focus in November 2023. He spent over five years at Transport for London early in his career working in policy and public affairs. After a brief spell in the voluntary sector, he moved to the Electoral Commission where he was Director of Communications and the Programme Director for the Scottish Referendum (2014) and EU Referendum (2016). Prior to joining Transport Focus, Alex was the Executive Director for Strategy and Operations with the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman and then Chief Operating Officer at the Pensions Ombudsman. 

Rubi Sarang, Principal Consultant, Steer 

Rubi is an experienced transport professional within Steer’s Rail Advisory team, specialising in project management and strategic planning. As team manager, she is responsible for resourcing and financial and commercial management. She brings extensive experience in digital transformation for government clients and has a strong background in commercial operations and strategic advisory.

Prior to joining Steer, Rubi spent over five years at HS2 Ltd., where she held multiple roles across three teams. Rubi managed the mobilisation of the West Coast Partnership Development contractor as a Shadow Operator and was responsible for managing the Rolling Stock contract for the 54 high-speed trains to be built for Phase 1, overseeing client readiness and contract mobilisation, the Concept Design Phase, and the Collaborative Design Process, which focused on creating a user-centric train interior.

Rubi is passionate about diversity and inclusion. She is also a STEM Ambassador, dedicated to improving social mobility and access to opportunities in the transport industry.