The Transport Committee will “Dragons’ Den-style” judge a series of pitches from transport experts who are vying to convince MPs to adopt their idea as the subject of the committee’s next inquiry.
It comes after the committee launched its Our Future Transport crowdsourcing appeal in January 2023, hoping to hear about new innovations and disruptive technologies that could change the transport sector.
Over 220 applications were received from across the UK’s transport sector from academics, charities, operators, campaigners and members of the public.
The cross-party committee has narrowed down its top 12 submissions, and applicants have been invited to pitch in-person to the committee to help MPs decide which ideas to take forward as the premise of a future inquiry.
The two sessions, on 9 and 10 May, will be broadcast live from the Macmillan Room in Portcullis House, Westminster.
The first session will hear from director general of Rail Freight Group Maggie Simpson; Peter Gordon; chief executive of Angel Trains Malcolm Brown; chair of the Maritime and Transport Action Group Fran Collins; Coventry City councillor Jim O’Boyle; and Chris Paul from the University of Manchester.
The second round of interviews will include director of Virgin Trains Ticketing Mark Plowright; Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK; Oliver Howes, principal consultant for TRL; Martin Tugwell, chief executive of Transport for the North; Nick Bromley from Matatika; and Milda Manomaityte, innovation director for the Railway Industry Association.