The UK’s transport system faces major challenges with road and rail links suffering increasingly from congestion and overcrowding. Recent aviation reports from the Transport Select Committee and the Committee on Climate Change stress the economic importance of aviation but the need to reduce carbon emissions. The Committee on Climate Change’s report found there is scope for significant modal shift to rail and high-speed rail on domestic and short haul international routes to Europe which could reduce aviation demand by up to 8% in 2050.

With the HS2 report having just been submitted to Ministers and a response expected in late March, along with the draft National Networks National Policy Statement, this conference considers the key strategic transport linkages the UK needs to focus on and how these links can be improved at the same time as carbon emissions are reduced.

The conference will cover the following:

• Connecting the UK – what are the key economic linkages the UK needs to focus on?
• The future of aviation – the need to focus on strategic links
• Developing a National Networks Policy Statement and the UK’s strategy for high speed rail
• Reducing UK aviation emissions to meet the 2050 target
• The relative environmental performance of high speed rail and short haul air transport
• Designing quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft
• Aviation versus rail – at what point does rail no longer have the advantage?
• The role of a high speed link to Heathrow in reducing short haul flights
• Reducing emissions and enhancing capacity – the future for the national road network

For further information and to register please visit http://www.eventsforce.net/transportpriorities

TPS members can get a 15% discount by quoting TPS15 when registering online.