YRP BeEnspired: Introduction to Rail Vehicle Engineering
Wed 21 Oct 2026 · 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
AtkinsRéalis, 4 Roundhouse Rd, Derby
Next in our series of YRP East Midlands BeEnspired series is an "Introduction to Rail Vehicle Engineering" delivered by John and Caspar from Enspired at the AtkinsRéalis Derby office. On part 1 of the rail vehicle engineering course, the session, we will start from very basic questions such as 'what is the definition of a train?' and move on to key technical subject technical areas such as wheel and rail interface, bogies and suspensions, bodyshells, couplers, gangways and doors. This is a full day course and morning refreshments and buffet lunch will be provided. To cover all the topics you need to attend both sessions, but it's not essential to do so.
Next in our series of YRP East Midlands BeEnspired series is an "Introduction to Rail Vehicle Engineering" delivered by Dick Page from AtkinsRéalis at the AtkinsRéalis Derby office. Following on from part 1, on part 2 of the rail vehicle engineering course, we will cover traction and braking with some hands-on examples of rail vehicle components. This is a morning course 9am to 12pm, morning refreshments will be provided. To cover all the topics you need to attend both sessions, but it's not essential to do so.
🍱 Lunch & Learn #4: Are You A Role Model? We’re excited to present our #4 session of the London & Southeast Young Leaders Development Series, a new monthly Lunch & Learn initiative designed to support personal growth and leadership development across the YRP community. 🎤 4th Session Details Topic: Are You a Role Model? Format: Online (Presentation + Open Discussion) Duration: 60 minutes Frequency: 23rd October, Friday, 13:00 to 14:00 (Monthly series for 6 months) 👨🏫 Led by: Tom Lawrence We are pleased to introduce Tom Lawrence, who will be leading the series. Tom is a leadership and personal development practitioner with a strong track record in creating accessible, practical learning content: Founder of highlyeffectiveleader.com (developed over the past 5 years) Author of 6 self-published books in the Highly Effective Leader Series A newly published book focused on inspiring young people to develop leadership skills More than 20 years of experience in railway industry Tom is passionate about supporting young professionals, particularly within industries like rail, where he has years of experience working with stakeholders across the railway world. 🌱 About the Session In this third session, we will explore: Who is your role model? Everybody is a role model What type of example do you lead? We are all being observed How are you being your best self every day? The session will include a short presentation followed by an open discussion, giving everyone the opportunity to share perspectives and experiences. 💡 Why This Series? Leadership development is not a one-off event - it’s a continuous journey. This series aims to provide: Regular, bite-sized learning opportunities A safe space for discussion and reflection Practical tools you can apply immediately A community of peers growing together We encourage active participation - whether you’re just starting out or already developing your leadership style. Please bring your thoughts, questions, and experiences to share.
Join YRP Cymru Wales for our October Social on Friday 23rd October at the Owain Glyndwr in the heart of Cardiff! We have planned a light-hearted activity to take place during the evening for some added entertainment and everybody who purchases a ticket will receive a welcome drink of their choice! Socials are a great way to meet fellow colleagues from across the sector, from various companies and disciplines, learning more about the rail industry while also developing your network. Tickets are now available for just £2! Hope to see you there! Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central stations are both 10 minutes walk to the venue.
Are you a young rail industry professional in the South West who is eager to network and meet likeminded people in the industry? Come and join YRP Western for an informal social evening at Flight Club in Bristol for a 90 minute session of social darts. This will be a great opportunity to meet other young professionals in the rail industry in the Western region to enable you to develop contacts and perhaps make some new friends too. Networking at our events can provide you with a suitable environment to enhance your #railcareerdevelopment, learn more about the railway including its associated companies, departments and projects whilst also developing your network. If this sounds of interest to you come and join us! Date: Friday 23rd October 2026 Time: 7:30pm –9pm with the opportunity to stay on for drinks Venue: Flight Club Bristol, 41 Corn St, Bristol BS1 1HT Tickets are subsidised at just £6 per person #youngrailprofessionals #YRP #FutureofRail
Meet outside the Woodman Pub, 1 Curzon St, Birmingham
Join West Midlands Young Rail Professionals for an exclusive visit to the site of Curzon Street, the northern terminus of HS2. The event will begin with a project presentation from the HS2 team, offering a rare insight into how they plan to deliver and operate the new high-speed railway. Following the presentation, attendees will head up to the Curzon Station viewing platform to see for themselves the exciting progress already being made. Whatever your interest, whether in design, engineering, construction or innovation, this site visit promises an exceptional opportunity to see firsthand the development of the UK’s first new intercity railway station in over a century. Important information: By Car: Parking is available at Millennium Point Car Park, Howe Street, Birmingham, B4 7AP (what3words: oval.files.fuels). Please note that the site is within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. To check whether charges apply to your vehicle, please refer to the Birmingham City Council website. On Foot: The site is an approximately 10–15 minute walk from both New Street Station and Moor Street Station. For safety reasons, only individuals who have registered for the event will be permitted to enter the site and all attendees will need to bring some form of photo ID (university of work ID) with them. No PPE is required for this site visit. We look forward to welcoming you for an inspiring morning, showcasing the future of rail innovation in action. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Georgia Haslam (georgia.haslam@youngrailpro.com).
Join YRP Scotland for their Heritage Event at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway on Wednesday 28th October! 🚂 YRP Scotland is delighted to invite you to a hands-on heritage experience at the historic Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. Spend the day alongside passionate volunteers, gaining unique insight into the day-to-day operations involved in maintaining and running a heritage railway. Whether you're interested in rail, engineering, or simply want to try something new, this promises to be an engaging and rewarding experience. Event Details: 📅 Date: Wednesday 28th October ⏰ Meeting Time: 9:00 AM 📍 Meeting Point: Glasgow Queen Street Station 🚉 Location: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway What to Expect: 🔧 Hands-on activities 👷 Behind-the-scenes insight into railway operations 🤝 Work alongside experienced volunteers Additional Information: 🦺 PPE is mandatory on site 🥪 Lunch will be provided for all attendees This promises to be an action-packed and memorable day — don’t miss out! We look forward to welcoming you. If you require any further information please contact: cara.mcgrath@siemens.com
Please join us on Wednesday 28th October from 5pm onwards at Albert's Schloss Birmingham, for an evening of networking, conversation, and good company. Each month, as a region, we host a social to connect with fellow young rail professionals, expand your network, and catch up with colleagues from across the industry in an informal setting. Perfectly located just a five-minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station and nine minutes from Birmingham Snow Hill, Albert’s Schloss provides the perfect setting to build your network or reconnect with friendly faces. Come and celebrate Oktoberfest, embrace the spooky season ahead of Halloween, and enjoy a great evening of networking, catching up with familiar faces, and meeting new people. We look forward to seeing you there.If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Georgia Haslam (georgia.haslam@youngrailpro.com).
Young Rail Professionals North West: New Starter Social Whether you're new to the rail industry, new to the North West, or simply looking to grow your professional network, join us for an informal evening of networking, conversation and connection at Freight Island, Manchester. Hosted by Young Rail Professionals North West, this social event is a great opportunity to meet colleagues from across the rail sector in a relaxed and welcoming environment. From project delivery and engineering to operations, infrastructure, consultancy and the wider supply chain, professionals from all disciplines are encouraged to attend. While the event is aimed at helping new starters and those early in their rail careers build connections, familiar faces and established industry professionals are equally welcome. Whether you're looking to expand your network, reconnect with old colleagues, share experiences, or support those just entering the industry, we'd love to see you there. If its your first week in rail or your tenth year, come along and be part of the growing YRP community. 📅 Date: Thursday 29 October 📍 Venue: Freight Island, Manchester 🎟️ Tickets: £2 per person* New faces, familiar faces, one rail community. *The £2 ticket fee helps us manage attendance numbers and reduce no-shows, ensuring we can provide the best possible experience for everyone attending. The money will be used to subsidise future socials.
Join Young Rail Professionals North West for an exclusive evening of discussion, insight, and debate at our highly anticipated Politics in Rail panel event. This is your opportunity to hear from some of the industry's most influential voices as they tackle the key political, economic, and strategic issues shaping the future of Britain's railways. More importantly, it's your chance as a future industry leader to put your questions directly to today's decision-makers. The panel will be moderated by renowned railway consultant, commentator, and podcast host Anna-Jane Hunter. Confirmed panelists include award-winning railway leader Chris Gibb, with additional speakers to be announced soon. Kindly hosted by Transport for Greater Manchester at their offices adjacent to Manchester Piccadilly station, this in-person event has been scheduled to make attendance easy after work. Food and soft drinks will be provided throughout the evening. The event will operate under Chatham House Rules to encourage open, honest, and thought-provoking discussion. Tickets start from just £5, making this a fantastic opportunity to engage with senior industry leaders, expand your network, and be part of the conversations shaping the future of rail. Spaces are limited due to venue capacity, so secure your place today to avoid missing out. We look forward to seeing you there.
Stop Falling Into It. Start Choosing It. An evening on careers in Safety Assurance & Systems Engineering Hosted by Nextec Engineering in partnership with YRP Wednesday 11 November 2026 | 17:30 | WSP, 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD Every railway, aircraft and power network you trust relies on work you rarely see. Systems engineering and safety assurance hold complex projects together. They make sure everything works as intended, fits together safely and can be shown to be safe before it reaches the public. Few people understand what the work involves, yet it is among the most important, varied and rewarding careers in engineering. Join Nextec Engineering and YRP for an evening on this hidden side of the industry. You’ll hear what systems and safety engineers do day to day, how their work shapes major projects, and what a career in the field could look like for you. On the evening: An introduction to systems engineering and safety assurance, and why it matters Insights into career paths, from early careers to senior roles A discussion of chartership and professional registration, including routes through professional engineering institutions Networking with experienced practitioners, industry leaders and professional bodies Complimentary drinks and finger food Who should attend? Anyone curious about the industry. You might be a student or graduate weighing up your options, an engineer thinking about a change of direction, a professional starting on chartership, or someone who wants to grow their network. Places are limited. If you have any questions, please contact John.Mosuela@wsp.com.
Politics in Rail: West Midlands YRP Question Time Join Young Rail Professionals West Midlands for an engaging Question Time-style panel exploring how politics, policy and regional decision-making shape the future of rail in the West Midlands. This interactive evening will bring together senior voices from across the rail and political landscape, giving you the opportunity to ask questions, challenge ideas and hear different perspectives on the issues shaping the future of transport and rail across the region. Hosted by Paul Plummer the event currently features Denise Wetton, Mal Drury-Rose and Caroline Warrington on the panel, with further panellists to be announced. Event Details: Thursday 12 November 2026Arcadis Birmingham Office16th Floor, 103 Colmore Row, BirminghamSponsored by Arcadis, Catering will be provided. Event Schedule: 17:00 onwards - Arrival17:30–19:00 – Panel Debate & Q&A19:00 onwards – Networking & food Come along to hear from influential voices across the industry, put your questions to the panel and join the conversation about the future of rail and transport in the West Midlands. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any further questions please reach out to me, Georgia.Haslam@youngrailpro.com.
🚂 YRP x IMechE Railway Challenge – Volunteer Day Join Young Rail Professionals (YRP) for a hands-on volunteering day supporting the IMechE Railway Challenge at Stapleford Miniature Railway. 📅 Saturday 14 November 2026 📍 Stapleford Miniature Railway, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire 🕘 Meet at Melton Mowbray station at 9:30am 🏁 Finish around 5:30pm What will we be doing? Volunteers will help with the installation of two new switches and a passing loop, including: 🔧 Preparing the ballast bed 🚂 Laying track and switches 📏 Aligning the track for smooth running No previous trackwork experience is required — tools, PPE and guidance will be provided. What to bring? 🥾 Sturdy footwear 👕 Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty 🥪 Your own packed lunch A fridge and microwave are available on site, and tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Getting there We will meet at Melton Mowbray railway station at 9:30am. A train is due to arrive at 9:28am. We will then organise car sharing from the station to the railway. Please let us know when registering if you can offer or need a lift. Come along, get hands-on with railway engineering, meet fellow rail professionals and help support the next generation of engineers! 🚂🔧
YRP Politics in Rail series returns in autumn 2026 and YRP Cymru Wales will host an event in the evening of Thursday 19th November with an interesting panel of guest speakers. Tickets are on sale now for £3, purchase yours today and join us for an evening of discussion on the future of Transport in Wales. 17:00 - 17:15 Arrival, food and networking 17:15 - 17:20 Welcome and introductions 17:20 - 18:00 Politics in Rail panel discussion 18:00 - 18:25 Audience Q&A 18:25 - 18:30 Closing remarks 18:30 onwards Networking drinks in Cardiff Bay Further updates will be provided as the event nears. For more information please email wales@youngrailpro.com.
The Young Rail Professionals London & South East Committee is delighted to present the 2026 edition of Politics in Rail, one of our largest and most anticipated annual events. This year's theme, "The Future of Rail", reflects both the railway industry's current position and the significant transformation expected over the coming years. Bringing together influential leaders from across the sector, the panel will explore the key issues, opportunities and emerging trends shaping Britain's railway. Through an open and engaging discussion, speakers will share their perspectives on the challenges facing the industry today and the innovations, reforms and investment needed to deliver the railway of tomorrow. Representing a broad range of disciplines and viewpoints, our distinguished panel will provide expert insight into the future development of rail across policy, infrastructure, operations, safety, strategy and the supply chain. This event is proudly sponsored by Matchtech, a leading recruitment and talent solutions provider to the rail and transportation industry. Their support reflects a shared commitment to investing in future talent and creating opportunities for young professionals to engage with industry leaders and shape the future of rail. Date: Thursday 26 November 2026 Time: 18:00 - 19:30, followed by networking and refreshments Venue: RSSB 25 Fenchurch Ave, London EC3M 5AD Panel Speakers Rt Hon Ruth Cadbury MP - Chair of the Transport Select Committee and Labour MP for Brentford & Isleworth, bringing a policy and parliamentary perspective on the future of rail. Sarah-Jane Crawford - Industry Partnership Director for the East Coast Digital Programme at Network Rail, leading one of Britain's most significant digital railway transformation programmes. Alejandro Moreno - Rail & Transit Market Director at AtkinsRéalis, with over 20 years' experience delivering major rail programmes and leading transformation across the industry. Mark Phillips - Chief Executive of RSSB since 2016, providing strategic insight on industry standards, safety and the future direction of the railway. Peter Graham - Policy & Government Affairs Director at Freightliner, representing the freight sector and the role of rail in supporting economic growth. Moderator: Mark Ovenden - Author, broadcaster and transport commentator, widely recognised for his work on transport, design and railway history. Event Agenda 17:30 - 18:00 Arrival, registration and refreshments 18:00 - 18:05 Welcome from Young Rail Professionals London & South East Committee 18:05 - 18:55 Panel Discussion: The Future of Rail Moderated discussion featuring our panelists, guided by pre-submitted questions. 18:55 - 19:30 Audience Q&A An opportunity for attendees to put their questions directly to the panel. 19:30 onwards Networking and refreshments The discussion will be conducted under Chatham House Rules to encourage open and candid debate. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be another thought-provoking and insightful Politics in Rail discussion!
