We welcomed the North’s political and business leaders, Government, and industry representatives to our 2024 Annual Conference in Liverpool on Monday, February 5, 2024, to discuss how to ‘Transform the North’.
Speakers from across our region and beyond covered the major economic and transport challenges and opportunities facing the North of England.
Guests joined a series of themed debates around our revised Strategic Transport Plan (STP), the updated Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review, Network North, Decarbonisation, Diversity and Inclusion in transport, as well as bus reform.
Speakers at our fifth Annual Conference included:
The programme for the North’s main transport conference featured thought leadership, unmatched opportunities to connect and network with region’s political and business leaders, government, policy makers, key industry professionals and many other stakeholders.
Click on the videos below to watch the sessions back in full.
Watch the sessions on YouTube
Opening the Transport for the North Annual Conference 2024, our Chief Executive highlighted the importance of allowing the North’s political and business leaders to decide and deliver on transport needs.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that few issues unite us in the North more than public transport does. We have a strong track record of delivering for our residents.
Watch the full speechFollowing some big decisions around HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, we explored how we can transform the rail network in the North of England and deciding what’s needed from our rail network in the region.
We explored why and what we need to do, to decarbonise our transport networks in the most inclusive way possible for the North of England.
We be explored how we can make the North more inclusive through more accessible, affordable, and greener transport. We discussed what we can do to ensure that our transport networks offer opportunities for all.
This session looked at how the North can lead the way in improving diversity in the transport sector and what needs to be done to welcome a broader range of people into our vibrant industry, to help transform the region.
We be explored how we can transform the North’s economy, by securing transport investment to boost productivity and create high-quality jobs across our region.
We discussed how the North can be a global gateway for the UK, and looked at how sustainable freight and logistics investment can unlock growth from our seven international gateway airports and 12 major foreign trading ports.
We looked at how a Northern bus revival can be achieved through transformational bus franchising, enhanced partnerships and innovative ticketing.
The final session reflected on the day’s debates looking at how we can Transform the North, featuring speeches from Rail Minister Huw Merriman and Transport for the North Chair, Lord McLoughlin.
I understand that government doesn’t always know best – that it is Mayors, Transport for the North, local leaders who are best placed to make decisions that affect people’s lives that you know what your communities need.
Watch the closing session in fullWith Liverpool Echo named as the official media partner, the conference also highlighted how transformational change can be achieved if investment in connectivity is aligned – for people and places – with investment in other strategic infrastructure and key policy areas, such as innovation, economic growth, health & wellbeing.
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Our hugely successful Annual Conferences have been a way of bringing the region together to discuss what is needed to deliver a more prosperous North for residents, businesses, and visitors.
We’ve welcomed prominent speakers from across a wide range of political and business backgrounds to give their perspectives on key topics such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, Decarbonisation, and economic growth.
Hundreds of guests have joined the sessions and helped provide vital insights to help enrich the debates and add real value to the events.
In 2023 we welcomed speakers and guests from across the political, business, and social spectrum.
Our exciting lineup of panellists included the the Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP, Mayor Jamie Driscoll, Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor Andy Burnham, Councillor Louise Gittins, and Lord Patrick McLoughlin.
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Transport for the North is a valued partner, a tireless champion of boosting connectivity across the region, both in public and in private.
Watch the full speechThe third Annual Conference took place Monday 20 September, and gave the region’s political and business leaders the opportunity to reiterate the need for committed funding to major infrastructure projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), as well as highlight the wide-reaching and long-term benefits to be gained from investment in improving connectivity.
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Transport for the North welcomed civic and business leaders in December 2020 to debate the key issues for the region at a time when levelling-up is more crucial than ever.
Watch the sessionsThe North came together with one voice in February 2019. Our inaugural conference in Sheffield was packed full of discussion from political and business leaders on what improved connectivity means across our regions.
Watch back speeches
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