UIC played a prominent role at the 2026 International Railway Safety Conference (IRSC) in Lisbon, contributing several technical presentations and joint projects that showcased the railway sector's commitment to improving safety, resilience and operational excellence worldwide. The conference provided an opportunity to demonstrate the concrete results obtained through the work of the UIC Safety Platform and its international network of railway experts.
Throughout the event, UIC experts and partners presented initiatives covering safety culture, cyber resilience, risk management, wayside monitoring technologies, artificial intelligence, and the development of safety management systems for future railway operations. These contributions illustrate how international cooperation continues to speed up innovation and harmonisation across the railway sector.
Safety culture: improving with the help of peer reviews
One of the key UIC contributions was the presentation by Virginie Papillault, UIC Human Factors and Safety Culture Manager, entitled “Safety culture in the European railway sector: key lessons from peer reviews (2022-2026)”. Drawing on several recent peer reviews conducted across European railway organisations, the presentation highlighted how these structured assessments help railway companies to strengthen their safety culture, share best practices, and foster continuous improvement. The initiative has become a flagship activity of the UIC Safety Platform and a recognised tool for organisational learning across the sector.
Integrating cybersecurity into railway safety management
Francisco Cabrera, UIC Deputy Head of Operations & Safety, presented “An innovative approach to incorporating cyber resilience into the railway sector”. The presentation showcased the outcomes of the RERA Cyber project, which explores practical ways to integrate cybersecurity into traditional railway safety management systems. As railways become increasingly digitalised, the project demonstrates how to manage cyber risks using established safety management principles, reinforcing system resilience and supporting a more integrated approach to risk management.
New UIC standards for wayside monitoring systems
Another major contribution was provided by José Manuel Cabral who presented ongoing UIC work on several monitoring systems, developed with SENER Mobility. The projects address two critical technologies for condition-based maintenance and operational safety: Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD) and Hot Axle Box Detectors (HABD). The work is currently being translated into two new UIC International Railway Solutions (IRS), which will provide harmonised guidance to railway undertakings and infrastructure managers worldwide.
Towards a harmonised application of the Common Safety Method on risk assessment
UIC also presented progress on the HARMO-COSMERA project through a second intervention by Francisco Cabrera, entitled “Harmonised Common Safety Method for Risk Assessment”. The initiative aims to harmonise the application of the European Common Safety Method (CSM) risk assessment process, addressing differences in interpretation and implementation across organisations. By encouraging greater consistency, the project seeks to improve efficiency, transparency, and mutual recognition within the railway safety framework worldwide.
Portugal's future high-speed network: ensuring safety from the outset
A particularly forward-looking contribution came from Filipe Gomes, Railway Systems & Safety Manager at AVAN, who presented “Building a solid SMS for Portugal's first high-speed rail line”. The presentation demonstrated how AVAN, the concessionaire of the Lisbon-Porto high-speed line, is developing its Safety Management System with UIC nearly five years before the start of operations. Adopting a fully holistic approach, the project integrates technical, operational, organisational, and human factors considerations from the earliest stages of the programme, laying the foundations for safe and resilient operations from day one.
Artificial intelligence for safer level crossings
Innovation was also at the forefront of Isabelle Fonverne (UIC) and Ramon Espuga Zaragoza’s (Imotion Analytics) presentation that shared the results of the AI4SAFEBEHAVE project. Their work explores how artificial intelligence and advanced video analytics can detect abnormal and risky behaviours at level crossings, in stations, on railway tracks, and re-identify individuals (in the case of suicidal persons). The project represents a significant step forward in understanding user behaviour, supporting risk mitigation strategies and enhancing protection at one of the railway sector's most critical interfaces with the public.
The strength of the UIC Safety Platform
Together, these presentations underline the breadth and impact of the UIC Safety Platform, which brings together infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, regulators, industry partners, researchers, and technology providers to address shared safety challenges.
IRSC 2026 demonstrated once again that the railway sector's most effective innovations emerge when expertise is shared across borders. UIC remains committed to supporting its members through joint projects, international standards, knowledge-sharing, and the development of practical tools that advance railway safety worldwide.
About UIC
UIC is the worldwide organisation for the promotion of rail transport at a global level and for the collaborative development of the railway system. It brings together more than 220 members across all 5 continents, and includes rail operators, infrastructure managers, railway service providers, and more. UIC maintains close links with all stakeholders in the rail transport sector around the world, including manufacturers, railway associations, and public authorities, as well as with other domains and sectors whose experiences may be beneficial to rail development. UIC's main missions include understanding the business needs of the rail community, developing innovative programmes to identify solutions to these needs, and preparing and publishing documents such as reports, specifications, guidelines, and IRSs that facilitate the implementation of innovative railway solutions. Through its Safety Platform, UIC facilitates international cooperation, develops technical guidance and supports the distribution of best practices to continuously improve railway safety.
