In late 2018, we created YoRIC to catalyse networking within the rail community in and around York, and to help those outside rail to access the sector.
Over the following years we welcomed nearly 200 people to the events that we arranged. We had a range of different formats and topics, including improvising a series of virtual events during Covid.
In parallel to YoRIC’s development, the Railway Industry Association has been increasing its activities in the north, through RIA North, and we recognised there was an increasing overlap between our activities, with many community members involved in both.
Therefore, after discussion with our peers in RIA North, we decided that from 2023 putting our efforts into a single programme of events through RIA North is the best approach, providing a wider programme of events and avoiding duplication and diary clashes.
RIA North has a programme of ‘open to all’ events, both in-person, and online, and we’d encourage the YoRIC community to join us at these events. No membership is required for the ‘open to all’ events.
Future events will be published on the RIA North website: https://riagb.org.uk/north
To be notified of future events we would recommend you join the RIA North email list by emailing north@riagb.org.uk
A flavour of previous events
20th Feb 2019:
Launch event: Agenda, speakers and slides
May 2019:
Thursday 16th May, 5pm – 7pm focused on data. Will Deakin guided us through the various different initiatives underway to improve data quality, interoperability and access to data across the industry; highlighting the potential benefits; and identifying scope for further improvement. Matt Freckelton, explained how Railguard is using industry data to improve customer experience, and built a business out of delay-repay automation. Will's slides are available in the YoRIC online community: https://yoric.org/about-us/yoric-online-community/
Nov 2019:
Wednesday 27th November 5pm - 6.30pm. YoRIC's autumn meet-up will focus on legal topics.
The second of our regular meet-ups will focus on legal issues associated with innovation, in particular intellectual property (the protection you can get for software, hardware, systems, etc., the pitfalls, the costs, the timescales, etc.) and contracts.
Our main speaker will be Fiona Kingscott from Langleys.
March 2020:
Wednesday 4th March, 2020, 5pm - 6.30pm.
YoRIC's March 2020 meet-up is all about Digital Trains
The Digital Railway Strategy is a key government cross-industry change programme which will facilitate the delivery of systems, technology, business and people change in an integrated way.
Marc Silverwood will outline how Northern is introducing Digital Trains with brand new technology to enable better real time decisions.
After the talks there will be opportunities for questions & answers; and further discussion around all things rail.
We'll aim to finished by 6.30pm, followed by networking and drinks.
Venue is the LNER Academy, accessed from platform 9 of York station (if you are unfamiliar with the venue station staff will be able to direct you).
Thursday 21st May 2020:
5pm - 6.30pm - online meeting (details to follow)
YoRIC's May meet-up will be a virtual one - considering the role of innovation in the return to rail.
The pandemic lock-down has seen services halved, and patronage below 5% of normal levels. As eyes turn to life after the lock-down, and the so called 'new normal' what is the role of innovation in helping the return to rail?
We hear from four lightning speakers and then attempt to facilitate an online discussion:
1) Iain Ferguson (Head of Safety & Sustainability at LNER) will share a TOC perspective. From the immediate challenges such as managing the safety of colleagues and customers, to the challenges of avoiding crowding during the exit period, to the long-term need to stimulate passenger growth.
2) We'll hear a system operator perspective, the challenges to keeping the network running, in the context of short-term planning horizons, changes to working practices, and changes of TOC / FOC needs.
3) Lewis Gill (Founder and Managing Director of York based Incremental) will provide an SME perspective - the opportunities for innovate SME's to help, and the challenges face by the changing rail landscape.
4) Finally, we'll hear from Kelvin Davies from Innovate UK, and the outlook for innovation projects in rail.
We'll then open up for discussion, questions and contribution from the wider YoRIC community.
We'll probably be using Zoom. Joining instructions will be emailed nearer the date.
Tuesday 20th October 2020:
5pm - 6.30pm via Zoom.
YoRIC's October meet-up will be a virtual one - hearing how other sectors are responding to, and recovering from COVID.
As summer leisure trips comes to an end, and the local lockdown advice comes into effect rail journeys are stuck at around a third of pre-COVID levels. For this session we look at how other modes and sectors have been impacted, and are navigating their own recovery from COVID.
We hear from three lightning speakers and then attempt to facilitate an online discussion:
1) Marc Bichtemann (Managing Director of First Bus York) will share a bus industry perspective - both locally and more widely. What has been the impact on passenger demand; what changes have operators made; how does this vary by area; what's the impact of Government support mechanisms, and the exit from these.
2) We'll hear from Ashley Young, Senior Marketing Manager for Make It York, on the impact on the local economy and local businesses and the activities planned as part of the tourism recovery strategy .
3) Finally, we'll hear from Roger Neary on impacts to the freight sector.
We'll then open up for discussion, questions and contribution from the wider YoRIC community.
We'll be using Zoom. Joining instructions will be emailed nearer the date.