Shaping the future of rail: Daisy Chapman Chamberlain on collaboration, design and passenger experience
06/11/2025
Daisy Chapman Chamberlain, Rail Services Lead at the Rail North Partnership, is driving improvements to rail services across the North. At this year’s Rail Interiors Show, she will join Kirsty Dias to discuss how design, specification, and innovation can foster a more inclusive rail environment for women.
At this year’s Rail Interiors Show, Daisy Chapman Chamberlain, Rail Services Lead at the Rail North Partnership, will join sector leaders to explore how design, specification and innovation can help create a more inclusive, passenger-focused railway. With Britain’s rail industry on the brink of structural reform, Daisy shared her thoughts on the opportunities ahead — from the creation of Great British Railways to the role of design in ensuring every journey feels safe, comfortable, and connected.
You’ve described the passenger rail sector as being on the cusp of major transformation, particularly in how interiors shape the overall journey experience. From your perspective, what are the defining forces driving this change, and how well is the industry keeping pace?
“In the United Kingdom, there are a few major forces at play at the moment,” Daisy explained. “The biggest one, politically and in terms of policy, is the creation of Great British Railways.
“Leading up to 2027, the vast majority of British rail services will be government-owned and government-operated, which presents an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate and coordinate across the industry at a national level.”
For Daisy, this shift represents a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine how rail is delivered and experienced — a more unified system where design, specification and passenger priorities can finally align.
The specification process often bridges the gap between design ambition and operational reality. How does your role help ensure that the passenger experience — including comfort, accessibility, and inclusivity — remains central as new rolling stock projects move from concept to delivery?
“In my role, I act as a link between strategy, delivery and passenger outcomes,” Daisy said. “That means ensuring that accessibility, comfort, and inclusivity aren’t treated as afterthoughts, but as core principles from day one.
“We work closely with operators, manufacturers, and local authorities to make sure new trains reflect the needs of the people who use them. Specification isn’t just about technical standards — it’s about creating environments that work for everyone, whether that’s through accessible layouts, better lighting, or thoughtful design details that make passengers feel safe and welcome.”
She added that collaboration and early engagement are key: “If we bring the right voices into the room at the right time — from passengers to designers to engineers — we end up with trains that genuinely improve lives.”
Many operators are now reimagining interiors not only for functionality but also for emotional impact — creating spaces that feel more connected, comfortable, and human. What trends or technologies do you think are most effective in achieving that?
“Across Europe, we’re seeing fantastic examples of rail design that put the passenger at the heart,” Daisy noted. “That could mean using lighting and colour to create a sense of calm, materials that feel warmer and more tactile, or layouts that make spaces feel safer and more inclusive.
“In the UK, we’re going through a real period of change, and there’s a growing appetite to learn from what’s happening elsewhere — especially in terms of passenger comfort and wellbeing. It’s about designing railways that people actively want to use, not just need to use.”
At the Rail Interiors Show, you’ll be among global leaders in design and technology. What trends or innovations are you most excited to see shaping the future of rail interiors?
“I’m most excited to learn what our European neighbours are developing,” Daisy said. “In rail in the UK, we’re going through a real period of change, and I’m interested to learn how we can develop and lead that change process based on what has been happening in Europe — whether that’s about services, commuter routes or long-distance, high-speed networks.
“I’m really keen to see the different ways in which European operators and designers are meeting the needs of their customers, and what lessons we can bring back to Britain from that.”
Looking ahead, how do you see the next five years shaping the dialogue between specification, design, and passenger expectation? And what do you hope visitors will take away from your session at the Rail Interiors Show this November?
“In the next five years, particularly in the UK as we face political change, this is an opportunity for us to shape the future of specification in line with the standards and safety criteria that we use.
“It’s the past, present and future look in combination that ensures we can shape that into the future. Britain is in a unique position in Europe at the moment, as far as we are going through that process of taking rail operators into public ownership. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to ensure that we have alignment throughout that process alongside the emerging needs of passengers now and into the future.”
A central theme of Daisy’s work — and her session at the show — is the role of design in safety and inclusion. “The incorporation of design elements for the safety of women and girls is not a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a must-have, morally but also financially. Women make up around 50% of the population in most countries, so we must make sure that they feel comfortable, safe, and happy to use rail in every nation.
“If we don’t ensure that they feel comfortable using rail, we’re missing revenue — as well as the fact that everybody deserves to feel safe and comfortable using the railways. We must look at this from a two-pronged approach: it’s not just the right thing to do — it’s the sensible thing to do.”
She added that heritage and local identity are equally important considerations in future design. “When we create new services or deliver existing ones, they should reflect the places we serve. Rail is intimately linked to those communities and the societies in which they operate. It’s much more than just getting from A to B — railways are windows to their communities.
“If we want to build ticket revenue and passenger growth, we must ensure people feel connected to their local area and that rail is the first choice for travel, not the last. That’s extremely important to future growth and success.”
Daisy Chapman Chamberlain will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting: how design, specification and innovation can help create a more inclusive, passenger-focused railway. Book your free delegate pass today by clicking here.
You’ve described the passenger rail sector as being on the cusp of major transformation, particularly in how interiors shape the overall journey experience. From your perspective, what are the defining forces driving this change, and how well is the industry keeping pace?
“In the United Kingdom, there are a few major forces at play at the moment,” Daisy explained. “The biggest one, politically and in terms of policy, is the creation of Great British Railways.
“Leading up to 2027, the vast majority of British rail services will be government-owned and government-operated, which presents an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate and coordinate across the industry at a national level.”
For Daisy, this shift represents a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine how rail is delivered and experienced — a more unified system where design, specification and passenger priorities can finally align.
The specification process often bridges the gap between design ambition and operational reality. How does your role help ensure that the passenger experience — including comfort, accessibility, and inclusivity — remains central as new rolling stock projects move from concept to delivery?
“In my role, I act as a link between strategy, delivery and passenger outcomes,” Daisy said. “That means ensuring that accessibility, comfort, and inclusivity aren’t treated as afterthoughts, but as core principles from day one.
“We work closely with operators, manufacturers, and local authorities to make sure new trains reflect the needs of the people who use them. Specification isn’t just about technical standards — it’s about creating environments that work for everyone, whether that’s through accessible layouts, better lighting, or thoughtful design details that make passengers feel safe and welcome.”
She added that collaboration and early engagement are key: “If we bring the right voices into the room at the right time — from passengers to designers to engineers — we end up with trains that genuinely improve lives.”
Many operators are now reimagining interiors not only for functionality but also for emotional impact — creating spaces that feel more connected, comfortable, and human. What trends or technologies do you think are most effective in achieving that?
“Across Europe, we’re seeing fantastic examples of rail design that put the passenger at the heart,” Daisy noted. “That could mean using lighting and colour to create a sense of calm, materials that feel warmer and more tactile, or layouts that make spaces feel safer and more inclusive.
“In the UK, we’re going through a real period of change, and there’s a growing appetite to learn from what’s happening elsewhere — especially in terms of passenger comfort and wellbeing. It’s about designing railways that people actively want to use, not just need to use.”
At the Rail Interiors Show, you’ll be among global leaders in design and technology. What trends or innovations are you most excited to see shaping the future of rail interiors?
“I’m most excited to learn what our European neighbours are developing,” Daisy said. “In rail in the UK, we’re going through a real period of change, and I’m interested to learn how we can develop and lead that change process based on what has been happening in Europe — whether that’s about services, commuter routes or long-distance, high-speed networks.
“I’m really keen to see the different ways in which European operators and designers are meeting the needs of their customers, and what lessons we can bring back to Britain from that.”
Looking ahead, how do you see the next five years shaping the dialogue between specification, design, and passenger expectation? And what do you hope visitors will take away from your session at the Rail Interiors Show this November?
“In the next five years, particularly in the UK as we face political change, this is an opportunity for us to shape the future of specification in line with the standards and safety criteria that we use.
“It’s the past, present and future look in combination that ensures we can shape that into the future. Britain is in a unique position in Europe at the moment, as far as we are going through that process of taking rail operators into public ownership. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to ensure that we have alignment throughout that process alongside the emerging needs of passengers now and into the future.”
A central theme of Daisy’s work — and her session at the show — is the role of design in safety and inclusion. “The incorporation of design elements for the safety of women and girls is not a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a must-have, morally but also financially. Women make up around 50% of the population in most countries, so we must make sure that they feel comfortable, safe, and happy to use rail in every nation.
“If we don’t ensure that they feel comfortable using rail, we’re missing revenue — as well as the fact that everybody deserves to feel safe and comfortable using the railways. We must look at this from a two-pronged approach: it’s not just the right thing to do — it’s the sensible thing to do.”
She added that heritage and local identity are equally important considerations in future design. “When we create new services or deliver existing ones, they should reflect the places we serve. Rail is intimately linked to those communities and the societies in which they operate. It’s much more than just getting from A to B — railways are windows to their communities.
“If we want to build ticket revenue and passenger growth, we must ensure people feel connected to their local area and that rail is the first choice for travel, not the last. That’s extremely important to future growth and success.”
Daisy Chapman Chamberlain will speak at the Rail Interiors Show in November, sharing insights from across industries and highlighting: how design, specification and innovation can help create a more inclusive, passenger-focused railway. Book your free delegate pass today by clicking here.