Collaboration and change in focus at Rail Forum Annual Conference

UKTram Managing Director, James Hammett, joined industry leaders at the Rail Forum Annual Conference 2025 on the 9th of October, held at Doncaster Racecourse and Exhibition Centre. This year’s theme, “Unleashing the Value of UK Rail”, brought together voices from across the sector to explore the future of integrated transport and innovation.

Image Credit: Rail Forum

The agenda featured insights from Sir Andrew Haines (Network Rail), Laura Shoaf CBE (Shadow GBR), Claire Mann (TfL), and James Richardson (Transpennine Route Upgrade).  

Sessions highlighted how greater collaboration and new approaches under Great British Railways (GBR) can unlock innovation and customer-focused delivery across the rail landscape.  

Reflecting on the event, James Hammett said:

“It’s clear that the time for change is now. GBR presents a real opportunity to rethink how we collaborate across rail modes, embracing innovation and learning from each other. It was great to see a number of shared members and new potentail ones, while exploring new ideas that could benefit both the heavy and light rail sectors.” 

He also noted the alignment between Network Rail CEO Sir Andrew Haines’ call for customer-centric integration and UKTram’s own priorities, adding: 

“Andrew Haines’ highlighted the need to take this opportunity for change with GBR and integrate it to other transport modes.  Plus, not to forget that there has been a lot of progress, it’s just we don’t always make note of the day-to-day incremental changes that improve service and systems.’’  

The event also saw contributions from Elaine Clark OBE, Chief Executive of the Rail Forum, who just last month spoke at the UKTram and LRSSB Light Rail Summit. Her presentation, “UKTram and Rail Forum: Working Together to Enhance the Light Rail Passenger Experience,” outlined the growing partnership between the two organisations and the shared ambition to connect the wider rail supply chain with light rail operators and authorities.

This partnership was formalised earlier in the year with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UKTram and the Rail Forum, signed in May 2025, signalling a major step forward in cross-sector collaboration.

Building on this momentum, UKTram and the Rail Forum are now preparing for the Focus on Light Rail event on 5th November, in Leeds. The new joint initiative will provide supply chain members with insight into current systems, upcoming schemes and innovation opportunities across the UK’s 11 operational light rail networks, with West Yorkshire set to become the next area to benefit from a modern tram system.  

Speakers include:  

• Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire  

• James Hammett, Managing Director, UKTram  

• Rob Leech, Strategic Technical Advisor, West Yorkshire Combined Authority  

• Mark Davis, General Manager, London Trams  

• Andrew Gazzard, Transport for Wales  

• Simon Coulthard, Network Rail  

• James McCaffery, UK Head of Programmes, Stadler  

• Carl Williams, Light Rail Safety and Standards Board 
  

UKTram looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with the Rail Forum, which will help unlock opportunities and strengthen the connections between heavy and light rail.