WITH Eurostar’s Richard Brown making climate change top of his agenda and parliament’s Environment Committee calling on the government to issue all citizens with a carbon quota, a conference is to be held in London in July on the theme of ‘Reducing Rail's Carbon Footprint - Where Are We Now?’

Organisers Waterfront Conference Company say: “With rising fuel costs, pressure to reduce carbon emissions and the environmental agenda increasingly prominent in consumers’ minds it is crucial that the rail industry maintains its lead as an environmentally-friendly mode of transport. Engaging with the environmental agenda presents an opportunity to cut costs as well as being a marketing tool for attracting customers.”

The conference will be hosted by the law firm Stephenson Harwood on 10 July. The morning session will hear an update on policy and progress from leading industry figures, whilst the afternoon will focus on technologies and operational methods of reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Among the speakers will be Michael Roberts, Chief Executive, ATOC; Hans Benkerm, Project Manager, Siemens; John Hawkins, Rail Technical Director FirstGroup; Stephen Joseph, Executive Director, Campaign for Better Transport; and Alistair Dormer, General Manager, Rail Systems Group, Hitachi Europe Ltd