The second meeting of the Scientific Committee for the organisation of the World Congress on High Speed – to be held in Philadelphia in July 2012 – was held in Washington on 27 June.

The meeting was held at APTA Headquarters and was attended by representatives from UIC-Intercity and high speed members and from several American partners (Amtrak, AAR, FRA and VIA Rail Canada by telephone conference).

The congress will be held from 11 to 13 July 2012 at the Philadelphia Conference Centre (a former train station converted into a conference and exhibition hall) and will be preceded on 10 July by a political event in Washington involving authorities, congressmen and several CEOs from UIC members railways. The UIC statutory meetings (General Assembly and Executive Board) will also be held on 9 July in Philadelphia.

As usual, the congress will consist of plenary sessions, round tables and parallel sessions, accompanied by an exhibition and technical visits. A train exhibition will also be organised by Amtrak in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.

As in previous editions, an international student’s competition is to be launched and the winners will be invited to attend the congress and to participate actively in it.
During the meeting in Washington, discussion was held on the main subjects to be incorporated into the congress sessions. A call for the student’s competition will be launched in September and a call for papers will be launched in December.

The congress is organised by UIC and APTA (American Public Transportation Association), with strong cooperation from UIC’s North American members: Amtrak, AAR, FRA and VIA Rail Canada.