Event details
The UK rail industry is transitioning from small, isolated artificial intelligence pilots to a highly coordinated, network-wide rollout guided by the industry's joint AI Action Plan. As Great British Railways (GBR) unifies track and train operations, the focus has shifted toward "agentic AI"—autonomous systems capable of optimising real-time timetables, dynamically managing network capacity, and executing predictive infrastructure maintenance. This theme explores the deployment of intelligent, self-managing technology across safety-critical rail environments without compromising passenger or worker safety.
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09:55 AM - 10:40 AM
Autonomous Intelligent Timetabling and Despatch Systems
This panel examines the transition from static scheduling to agentic, real-time decision-making in UK rail operations. Industry leaders, data scientists, and safety experts will discuss how autonomous systems can dynamically adjust timetables and despatch sequences to resolve conflicts before delays cascade. The conversation will focus on balancing machine autonomy with human oversight to ensure absolute safety compliance under GBR.Key Discussion Points-
- Agentic AI in Action: How autonomous systems handle live disruptions, manage platform conflicts, and optimise network capacity in real time.
- The GBR Integration: Leveraging unified track and train operations to create a single, data-driven source of truth for scheduling.
- Safety-Critical Automation: Maintaining rigorous safety standards for passengers and trackside workers while deploying self-managing software.
- Human-in-the-Loop: Redefining the role of signallers and despatch teams as they transition from manual planners to system overseers.
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10:50 AM - 11:35 AM
Predictive Maintenance 2.0: AI Agents on the Tracks
This panel explores the shift from passive asset monitoring to agentic, self-healing infrastructure maintenance. Industry leaders, engineers, and tech innovators will discuss how autonomous AI agents analyse data from rolling stock and trackside sensors to predict failures and independently schedule repairs. The session will address how GBR can leverage these tools to cut costs and boost reliability while keeping trackside teams safe.Key Discussion Points- From Monitoring to Action: How agentic AI moves beyond alerts to autonomously schedule inspections and order replacement parts.
- Unified Asset Management: Harnessing the GBR framework to merge track, signalling, and fleet data into one cohesive maintenance ecosystem.
- Trackside Worker Safety: Using predictive automation to reduce the time human crews spend in hazardous, live-track environments.
- Validating the AI: Ensuring machine-driven maintenance schedules comply with strict rail safety regulations and engineering standards.
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11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Streamlining the Back Office: AI Automation in Rail Corporate Services
This panel shifts the spotlight from the tracks to the engine room of rail operations: corporate services. Industry executives, HR leaders, and procurement experts will discuss how agentic AI and automated workflows are transforming back-office functions. The session will explore how GBR can use intelligent automation to streamline complex supply chains, automate compliance auditing, and optimize workforce scheduling, ultimately driving down costs to fund frontline improvements.Key Discussion Points- The Automated Enterprise: Deploying AI agents to handle complex procurement, supplier billing, and contract management autonomously.
- Smart Workforce Planning: Utilising AI to optimize rostering, manage labor compliance, and predict frontline staffing shortages before they impact service.
- Data-Driven Compliance: How automated systems can audit safety reports, financial records, and regulatory paperwork with minimal human intervention.
- Funding the Frontline: Measuring the commercial impact of back-office efficiency and how savings can be reinvested into passenger-facing services under GBR.
Neil Robertson Chief Executive NSARNeil joined NSAR in 2015 from the utility sector, where he was CEO of the Energy & Utility Skills Group. Before that he was CEO at the British Insitute of Innkeeping
Prior to these sectoral CEO roles, he held senior positions in government departments for education and business, where he had responsibilities in skills, employability, English and migration, regional economic development, and European Structural Funds.
Neil has also worked with Babcock, City & Guilds, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. He started working life as a trainee quantity surveyor for GA Group, before studying and tutoring at Edinburgh University, specialising in socioeconomic theory.
Currently, Neil is also a board member of Women in Rail, Rural and Urban Training Scheme, Rethinking Outcomes, and the Horseracing Industry People Board.
In his spare time, he likes riding motorbikes and planting trees.
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12:40 PM - 13:25 PM
The AI-Ready Rail Workforce: Overcoming Cultural Resistance
This panel addresses the human element of the digital transition: moving the workforce from skepticism to adoption. Union representatives, change management experts, and rail leaders will discuss how to overcome cultural resistance to autonomous technologies. The session will focus on strategies for upskilling staff, addressing job security anxieties, and building trust in machine-driven decisions to ensure GBR's frontline workers embrace AI as an ally rather than a threat.Key Discussion Points- Demystifying Agentic AI: Effective communication strategies to shift the internal narrative from "AI replacing workers" to "AI empowering teams."
- Collaborative Change Management: How to constructively engage with trade unions and staff councils during large-scale automation rollouts.
- Upskilling for the Future: Designing training programs that equip traditional rail workers to oversee, validate, and collaborate with autonomous systems.
- Psychological Safety & Trust: Building confidence among signallers, engineers, and controllers to rely on AI-generated insights in high-pressure scenarios.
Chrisma Jain Head of High-Speed Engineering, Innovation Network RailChrisma Jain is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and senior rail industry leader with over 20 years’ experience in the UK transport sector. She is currently Head of Innovation at Network Rail High Speed.
Throughout her career, Chrisma has developed deep expertise in track renewals, rail infrastructure delivery and strategic programme management, contributing to the modernisation and reliability of London’s railway systems.
In addition to her industry role, she is a prominent professional leader within the engineering community. She serves as President of the Railway Engineering Institution (RailEI, formerly known as the PWI), where her presidential theme, Shaping Rail’s Future: Innovation, Change and the Skills Gap, reflects her commitment to workforce development, technology adoption and industry-wide collaboration. She is also a strong champion of diversity, inclusion and professional development across the rail sector, and regularly contributes to industry forums, conferences and cross-sector initiatives.
Her contributions to engineering have been widely recognised. She was awarded Engineer of the Year at the Engineering Talent Awards and has also been named a Top 100 Rising Star in Engineering, alongside other industry commendations.