If it wasn’t clear where Derby sits among the giants of the UK rail sector, it was never more evident last week as the annual Dinner at The Roundhouse (DATR) rolled into town. The energetic buzz generated from the 600+ throng that gathered for this year’s dinner event reflected the sense of expectation and belief in Derby’s mission to pioneer the future of rail and its digital transformation happening right now.

It goes without saying then, that we were thrilled to be there amongst such esteemed company once again and to enjoy a brilliant evening of networking and inspiring keynote speeches from some of the industry’s most influential figures as they took centre stage at Derby Arena.

Ahead of the main event, Ford & Stanley held a 90-minute drinks reception at The Yard in Pride Park with over 100 guests attending from rail and beyond. It was a great opportunity for the team to meet with them all and find out about the latest happenings across the trade.

The soiree continued as we moved on to the Arena for the dinner itself, with F&S as the bronze sponsor hosting guests across three tables. This year’s DATR host was none other than Pete Waterman OBE who is known for being a huge rail enthusiast in addition to his stellar career in the music industry, sharing the podium with keynote speaker Andy Derbyshire, Group VP Operations at Wabtec Corporation, one of the most well-liked and respected all-rounders in the UK railway industry. He’s got a wealth of global knowledge that he’s eager to share during these unpredictable times, which is exactly what he did with the audience comprising manufacturers and suppliers from across the UK.

The event underlined just how much Derby’s rich railway heritage and innovative engineering expertise will ensure the East Midlands region is primed to take us all forward into a new era of rail.

This feeling was further highlighted when DATR guest, Transport secretary Louise Haigh attended the official opening of Derby’s Rail Campus earlier in the day, where she hailed Derby as the ‘beating heart’ of railway.

Acknowledging that she knew “the potential that Derby has”, the city would play a key role in transforming the railways, adding that “Derby is already a hub for rail with the largest concentration of innovation and expertise in Europe” and that she also “looked forward to seeing how the Campus will lead to greater innovation, growth and collaboration, benefiting not only our rail network but the wider economy too.”