Birmingham Heroes Lecture: The Future of our Railways: embracing digital railway technology - 19 May 2015

In the fourth Birmingham Heroes lecture, Professor Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE), presented the research being carried out at the University in the area of improved railway control, timetabling, predictive maintenance technologies and energy efficiency.  

Professor Clive Roberts "Railways around the world are having a renaissance. Research being carried out at the University of Birmingham is underpinning the roll-out of innovative solutions, which will improve railway systems in Britain, as well as developing a potentially strong export market, helping Britain to become a true world leader in digital railway technology."

Over the last 14 years, Professor Roberts has developed a broad portfolio of research aimed at improving the performance of railway systems. He leads the University's contribution in a number of large EPSRC, European Commission and industry-funded projects. Professor Roberts works extensively with the railway industry in Britain and overseas. He currently leads a team of 11 research fellows and over 60 PhD students.

Industry leaders joined Professor Roberts for a panel discussion following his lecture. Our panel included: David Clarke, Innovation Director, Rail Safety and Standards Board; Kuldeep Gharatya, Head of Technical Strategy, Systems Performance & Innovation, London Underground; Francis How, Technical Director, Railway Industry Association; and Jane Simpson, Chief Engineer, Network Rail.

84 alumni, guests, and rail and engineering industry professionals attended the lecture and networking reception at London Transport Museum. Through their combined generosity, £860 was raised towards the University’s Collaborative Teaching Laboratory project. This new state-of-the-art facility will bring together practical teaching activities across a broad range of science and engineering disciplines. 

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