Overview
The conference will consider the implications for regeneration and planning policies and for rail investment programmes and franchise management. The UK faces vital challenges in environmental and social terms. The key issue for the environment is climate change and the need to constrain our outputs of carbon. Far less obvious, but still crucial, is the peaking of oil and gas supplies, which eventually
will cause major and irreversible price increases eliminating the cheap fuel. Major changes in lifestyles are needed to ensure a sound future and constraints on motorized travel and changes to more sustainable and energy efficient modes must form part of this. Changes to city structures must complement this, to ensure high levels of accessibility for everyone and to improve the energy efficiency of our settlements. The conference and exhibition will examine how far these challenges can be addressed and whether the viability of station projects can be enhanced through their meeting multiple goals. It will consider the implications for regeneration and planning policies
and for rail investment programmes and franchise management. It will also assess the appropriateness of current policy frameworks and organisational structures.