Snow falling in the streets of a multi modal Manchester freight extravaganza, ample networking to talk freight delivery on every level, clean air to congestion, recruitment to kerb space parking.

It was a bicycle to station, train to Manchester and a tram to the venue for four modal streams to the full house Manchester event.

Virtual courier bays, workforce solutions for logistics, train final mile, travel demand management for smart motorways and the four Rs, re-time, re-route, reduce,  re-mode.

Carl Lomas IOC chair was proud to be at one of the most interactive and sincere exchanges of freight issues in the history of the TfL forum. A key note by Mike Brown, the very last word from Ian Wainwright and strong interaction at the round tables for the mayor’s strategy on London for transport. TfL Ben Plouden summarised into six key themes.

A busy forum, opened by TfL boss Mike Brown, well-attended with a big slant to politics, 50 days to the new mayor, blue-sky thinking. Carl Lomas IOC spoke of exploding e-retail home delivery numbers, ‘half of retail, home delivered  by 2020’ setting the question to Ian Wainwright, ‘is it sustainable and are we ready?’

Jamie O’Hara, chief political advisor for TfL talked elections, "50 days to the mayoral election; it's going to be a new mayor. Vote on May 5th,new Mayor takes office on the sunday"

TfL Commissioner Mike Brown opened the 2016 Freight Forum

I want to work collaboratively with you. Enjoy the 'Streets Ahead' exhibition in the room. Put LoCity Conference - May 26th - in your diary...

Ian Wainwright then spoke about the continuing TfL action plans, up to and beyond the London Mayoral election.