Professor Ming Lim opened the 2016 logistics conference at Derby University in its 5th year to a packed lecture hall in the Kedleston Road main campus. Masters and undergraduate logistics students were in the audience.

2015 had focused on east midlands transport hot-spot for e-retail, 2016 moved to the detail of the heart blood of Derby- rail. Speaker Pete Waterman: ‘Clever folk of the future will find a solution to final mile as sheds link to digital rail’

Keynote speaker Peter Waterman, chair of Cheshire LEP and entrepreneurial guru gave a passionate keynote vision. Beginning with the work rail does...

The very first Liverpool to Manchester rail, and yes it began at Liverpool! It was about coal, it was about freight, it was about logistics. Leicester was next on the early rail map as the routes built up around the coal fields heading for London.  Canals were never an option, they froze in winter, were costly and theft was a huge issue.  During WW2, 2 million wagons a day moved munitions but by nationalisation in 1948 the rail was worn out.

Pete continued with passion...

Modern rail has become about heavy freight, coal and steel; you can leave it in a siding for the night and there’s not going to be any damage. Perishables are much harder to fit into timetables. It can be done; Royal Mail- letters delivered across the network in twelve hours. Roads are full, we need clever solutions; HS2 will change everything, and it will free up capacity and be fit for future.' ‘The challenge for you young people is a digital railway. We need a joined-up railway; future rail is going to be exciting!

Pete Waterman Univ Derby keynote for 2016 Logistics