IRaTCA completed a programme on the Operation and Maintenance of EMU for Tunisia, held from 29 September to 14 October.

Tunisia is the third country in Africa following Egypt and Algeria to follow a single IRaTCA training programme as one country. This course was held following a request to rearrange the course schedule out of consideration for Tunisia’s political situation.

The curriculum was designed for trainees to learn about KORAIL’s advanced railway system through specialist lectures and technical visits requiring them to play an active role in the Team Project, in which they seek as many solutions as possible to a number of issues.

The trainees showed a very positive and participatory attitude throughout the whole training period. They visited Goyang KTX depot, IT centre, KARST (Korea Airport Railway Seoul Station Terminal), Guro CTC (Centralised Traffic Control) centre and Seoul Station for a study visit, which represent KORAIL’s up-to–date railway infrastructure. Their enthusiastic desire to learn about KORAIL’s advanced railway system was confirmed by their endless questions in and out of the classroom.

In the congratulatory speech given by Mr Paeng Jung-Goang, KORAIL’s new Vice-President, it was stated that “IRaTCA opened its first railway training course for Tunisia, which is very meaningful. We have been able to take the first step to achieve co-prosperity by maintaining this kind of training programme to secure a tight friendship and to broaden our understanding of each other”.

In the reply speech, Mr Rafik Khelifi said “We thank KORAIL for supporting and implementing a very interesting training course for us. We were able to recognise the success of the Korean railroad. Now we can go back to our country encouraged by future cooperation with KORAIL”.

IRaTCA will continue its efforts to be the best railway training institute in Asia, expanding the training programme in the African continent.