On 18-19 June 2026, UIC took part in the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) RailCon 2026, hosted by the Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
As an important platform for dialogue and exchange, this first edition of ASEAN RailCon, held online, showcased the ASEAN Member States’ commitment to advancing railway connectivity, sustainability, resilience, and cooperation across the region.
Following the theme ‘Navigating Our Future, Together: Advancing ASEAN Connectivity Through Railways’, the conference helped lead towards closer cooperation among railway stakeholders in Southeast Asia and the development of more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready railway systems.
Anneli Lontoc, DOTr Undersecretary and PRI acting Executive Director, emphasised that looking at infrastructure alone is not enough and that true transformation requires interoperability across borders, digital innovation, climate and energy resilience, and people equipped with the right skills to lead change.
Through his participation in two panel discussions, Philippe Lorand, UIC Asia-Pacific Region Coordinator, highlighted the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation, promoting knowledge-sharing, training and capacity-building, and advancing safety, standards, interoperability, innovation, and partnerships in support of railway development.
During the session ‘Sustainability, Resilience, and Responsiveness for a Future-Ready Railway System’, Lorand underlined rail’s sustainable advantages, notably its low carbon footprint, high capacity and electrification potential. In the following discussion, key priorities were highlighted for resilience-building, including adaptation financing, the integration of railway adaptation measures into national planning frameworks, and stronger coordination across sectors and transport modes. From a UIC perspective, these priorities are addressed through activities such as the development of harmonised frameworks, notably through Resilient Railways (RERA), the strengthening of knowledge-sharing and expert networks, and tools for risk assessment and asset prioritisation.
In the session dedicated to ‘Safety, Standards, and Service Excellence to Elevate Passenger Experience, and Operational Performance’, Lorand highlighted the close link between safety and passenger experience, noting that safety standards and international cooperation are essential to delivering seamless, reliable, and attractive passenger mobility. He also stressed the importance of common standards and shared tools to reduce fragmentation and improve cross-border services.
Looking ahead to 2026-2028, he reiterated that UIC will focus on delivering tangible results, accelerating the implementation of common solutions, and strengthening cooperation with regions such as ASEAN to build safer, more efficient, and more attractive railway systems.
UIC warmly congratulates the organisers on this landmark initiative and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of rail and regional cooperation in the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific area.
