Rural Transport – Practical Solutions for Connected Communities

Thursday 18 September 2025 | 13:30 – 15:30
Part of the National Rural Conference 2025
Bookings now open for RSN members: View the full programme

Getting around in rural areas is about more than miles on a map — it’s about access to work, education, healthcare, and social life. This year’s Rural Transport session looks at practical, scalable ways to move people and goods more efficiently, cut emissions, and strengthen connections between villages, market towns and services.

From freight innovation and community-led schemes to e-bike adoption and locally tailored passenger transport pilots, our speakers will share approaches that are delivering on the ground and what it takes to make them work in rural contexts.

Confirmed speakers

	David Peinturier, Enterprise Support Consultant, Connected Places Catapult David leads the DfT Freight Innovation Cluster, convening 400 professionals across industry, academia and government to accelerate innovation in transport and logistics. Drawing on CPC’s partnership work with the Department for Transport in rural and underserved areas, he’ll outline community-centred approaches that pair councils with SMEs to solve real local challenges.
	Steven Morrison Cairns, Innovation Associate, NICRE Steven leads NICRE’s rural transport projects, supporting councils, businesses and communities to improve everyday movement of people and goods. Emerging from NICRE’s partnership with Food and Drink North East, his work champions local procurement and short supply chains. He’ll share lessons from recent projects — including Community Cargo Bikes, a Sustainable Transport Climathon.
	Katherine Davies, Sustainable Travel Officer, Babergh District Council & Mid Suffolk District Council Working across two rural districts with limited transport between villages and market towns, Katherine collaborates with parish councils, community groups, operators and local authority partners to deliver practical, sustainable mobility. She is currently overseeing two new grant-funded pilot passenger transport schemes focused on improving access to services, employment and social opportunities for residents.
	Norfolk County Council (speaker to be confirmed) Norfolk County Council will share their IVORA project, which uses technology to boost car-sharing journeys to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Speaker details will be confirmed shortly, and we’ll update this page once available.

This session is one of eight themed events running from 15–18 September as part of our member-exclusive conference. It’s free to attend for all eligible RSN member organisations. Sessions take place online via Zoom and are not recorded — to benefit from the discussion and interactive format, please join us live.

Book your place now and view the full programme.