Latest Rail News

08.03.13

Top engineers and rail innovators look to the future at ATOC event

ATOC is bringing together leading figures from across the industry to examine the role of engineering innovation on ‘The Future Train’.

The event on April 17, hosted by Young Engineers president and former Tomorrow’s World presenter Kate Bellingham, will feature talks, panel discussions and presentations all looking to the future of rolling stock design, the passenger experience and railway innovation.

Contributors on the day will include Southern fleet and performance manager Frazer Stirling; director of international HSR and head of engineering & operations at HS2, Tim Smart; RRUKA academic chair Simon Iwnicki; Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith; and ATOC’s own head of engineering Louise Shaw.

Senior engineering figures from a ROSCO and Network Rail are also expected to contribute.

Among the topics to be discussed are the influence of engineering on the rail industry, the value of investing in the next generation of engineers, examining how the UK supply chain can manage obstacles to innovation, the role engineering can play in meeting the business needs of TOCs and improving the passenger experience, and the future of high speed trains. Also up for debate is what the ‘future train’ looks like in the mind’s eye of an engineer, and the question of how blue sky thinking can be converted into reality.

There will be full coverage of the event in a later edition of Rail Technology Magazine.

Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]

Comments

Mikeyb   11/03/2013 at 20:42

Over the last few years, there has been a great deal of talk in the media, and plenty of Government hype, about the proposed UK supply chain for the Hitachi IEP. Recently however, all has gone quiet and we still do not know whether any British firms at all will be supplying components for this "marvellous" new train. I have a suspicion that most of the manufacturing will be carried out by Hitachi in Japan and by subcontractors in mainland Europe, simply because British engineering companies are not geared-up for.the trainbuilding sector.

Mikeyb   11/03/2013 at 20:43

Over the last few years, there has been a great deal of talk in the media, and plenty of Government hype, about the proposed UK supply chain for the Hitachi IEP. Recently however, all has gone quiet and we still do not know whether any British firms at all will be supplying components for this "marvellous" new train. I have a suspicion that most of the manufacturing will be carried out by Hitachi in Japan and by subcontractors in mainland Europe, simply because British engineering companies are not geared-up for.the trainbuilding sector.

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