11 August 2020
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is partnering with RSSB to hold its next Unlocking Innovation webinar series, examining Routes to Zero Carbon Rail.
Running from the week of 19 October, the next Unlocking Innovation event series will involve a free, one-and-a-half-hour webinar every day from 2-3.30pm from Monday to Thursday, open to all. The week will conclude with Modern Railways’ well-regarded Railway Industry Innovation Awards taking place on the Friday.
The topics of the Unlocking Innovation webinars include:
- Monday 19 October: Driving electrification – more cost efficient electrification of the network;
- Tuesday 20 October: Decarbonising self-powered rolling stock;
- Wednesday 21 October: Zero carbon Operations, Maintenance and Renewals ;
- Thursday 22 October: Generation decarbonisation – exploring rail’s wider role in the national push for net zero emissions; and
- Friday 23 October: Modern Railways will be running their Railway Industry Innovation Awards in London, which RIA is sponsoring.
David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The UK rail industry has been set the challenge of removing all diesel only trains from the network by 2040, and making the network net zero carbon by 2050. These goals are achievable but will require a clear decarbonisation strategy, investment in electrification and low carbon technologies and collaboration across the industry. All these topics will be discussed over the week of 19 October – so we welcome all to join RIA and RSSB, and our strategic partners UKRRIN and Network Rail, for what will be a fascinating week.”
Andrew Kluth, Lead Carbon Specialist at RSSB, said: “Rail decarbonisation’s contribution to national net zero targets demands concerted action in almost every area of infrastructure development and rail operations. It will also demand cooperation and collaboration across stakeholders, not just in rail but in other sectors. RSSB is, therefore, delighted to support RIA’s Unlocking Innovation: Routes to Zero Carbon, as it encapsulates these needs with the wide range of topics across the week’s activities, and the broad spread of partner contributors.”
The popular Unlocking Innovation programme brings together the rail industry to look at the latest developments in the sector, with over 500 people attending the last virtual series. Speakers will be announced soon. Each day there will be several ‘elevator pitches’ from innovators who will showcase inventions that will allow the industry to hit the carbon zero target.
The webinars are held in partnership with RSSB and strategic partners Network Rail and UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN).