The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) was proud to host the George Bradshaw Address for the first time on 10 February 2026 at One Great George Street, London, bringing together more than 200 senior leaders, policymakers and innovators from across the rail sector.
A long-standing and respected fixture in the industry calendar, the George Bradshaw Address provides a platform for discussion on the strategic, operational and policy issues shaping the future of Britain’s railway. This year’s event took place at a pivotal moment for the industry, as the sector looks ahead to the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) and the opportunities this presents for integration and long-term improvement.
The event was opened by Mark Hopwood CBE, Managing Director of Great Western Railway and Chair of the CIRO Board, who welcomed attendees and introduced keynote speaker Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport. In her address, the Secretary of State shared government perspectives on reform and the future direction of the industry.
You can read the Secretary of State’s full speech here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/george-bradshaw-address-2026
Following the keynote, a panel discussion and audience Q&A was chaired by Katy Austin, Transport Correspondent at BBC News. Panel participants included Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of the Rail Freight Group; Alex Hynes, Chief Executive of DfT Operator; and Jeremy Westlake, Chief Executive of Network Rail, who together explored the opportunities and challenges facing rail as the sector continues to evolve.
A particularly proud moment for CIRO came at the start of the evening, where former CIRO learners Bronnie Clarke, Head of Control (East Midlands Route) at Network Rail, and Maro Sakpere, Fleet Service Engineer at Govia Thameslink Railway, spoke about their career journeys and reflected on how CIRO’s professional development support had contributed to their progression.
Closing remarks were delivered by Phil Sherratt, Chief Executive of CIRO, who reflected on the importance of leadership, professional capability and cross-industry collaboration in shaping the future railway.
Hosting the Address for the first time reflects CIRO’s growing role in convening senior industry leaders and facilitating the dialogue needed to support the railway through a period of significant change.
For more information, event highlights and photography, visit:
https://www.ciro.org/george-bradshaw-address/
Shaping the future of rail, together.
