UIC eNews

CBRNe4rail project Second Consortium Meeting and Training Curriculum Validation Workshop completed

2026-05-20T14:31:51Z

The CBRNe4rail EU project, coordinated by the UIC Security Department, held its second Progress Meeting and Steering Committee on 11-13 May at the ENEA Research Centre in Frascati (Rome). Partners gathered in person to review achievements to date, validate key technical outputs and coordinate the next phase of work toward strengthening railway resilience against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) threats.

The project is progressing steadily and on track

The Steering Committee confirmed that the project continues to advance according to plan. Two major technical reports were recently delivered by University of Lodz: State of the art review of CBRNe security in railways, providing the first consolidated picture of CBRNe preparedness in European railways, and On-site study visit methodology and report, summarising expert technical visits and interviews conducted at five partner railway stations.

A key finding emerging from this work is that stations are generally well prepared for conventional threats but insufficiently equipped and trained for CBRNe incidents, highlighting the importance of the project's upcoming training programme and the future guideline for improvement of railway security level and response to CBRNe incidents.

Training curriculum was validated at the end-user workshop

Together with the progress meeting, a workshop was held to validate the CBRNe training curriculum by the project consortium and railway end-users. The curriculum was developed jointly by NBC School, SAFE and ENEA and builds on the EU RESIST project while adapting content to the specific needs of the rail sector.

The curriculum is designed as a one‑week intensive training for railway security staff and first responders and is composed of nine modules covering different aspects of CBRNe threats. SAFE also introduced the Virtual Reality (VR) training module, which will immerse trainees in a realistic CBRNe scenario set inside a virtual railway station, enabling safe and repeatable practice of decision‑making and response actions.

With this curriculum validated, the consortium now moves towards the implementation of the four training sessions, which will take place at the NBC School in Rieti between September and October 2026. Each session will gather around 15 rail stakeholders from Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Next steps - From training courses to implementation in field exercises

ENEA and other partners have also begun preparing the five in-situ exercises planned for the first half of 2027. These exercises will test the operational readiness of railway end-users and validate the tools, procedures and training developed throughout the project.

Stay informed on the project website or by following the latest updates on LinkedIn.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Securing Africa's railways: Inside UIC's Security Platform, working groups, and next steps

2026-05-19T13:45:47Z

On 7 May 2026, nearly 100 participants from the Africa Region attended a webinar that focused on UIC's rail security framework, activities, and opportunities relevant to the Africa region, organised as part of the UIC Africa Security Taskforce annual programme.

In his opening speech, Sidi Fadl-Allh Cherkaoui, Director of the Moroccan National Railways (ONCF) Security Department, representing Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Chair of the Africa Region, noted that strengthening railway security in Africa is essential in order to protect passengers, infrastructure, and freight, while ensuring reliable and resilient transport corridors that support economic integration.

Led by the UIC Security team, headed by Grigore Havarneanu, Director of the UIC Security Department, the webinar focused on the distinction and similarities between safety and security, key security challenges in an open rail environment, and the importance of prevention, crisis management, and cooperation with public authorities.

The UIC Security Platform was introduced, including its governance, five working groups (New Technologies, Human Factors, Strategy and Regulations, Sabotage/Intrusion/Attacks, and Crisis Management), and practical tools such as the Network of Quick Responders and the UIC Rail Security Hub which facilitate member participation. The attendees were also invited to nominate experts for each working group, if their company was not already represented.

The session also addressed priority topics such as the protection of vulnerable groups (including women) and combatting human trafficking, ongoing research and innovation projects, and upcoming events such as the UIC World Security Congress 2026 (3-5 November in Dublin, Ireland), with specific opportunities for African railway stakeholders to take part.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Watford Conference 2026 in Paris: A certified global training programme on railway design and urban transformation

2026-05-18T14:29:49Z

UIC's Station Managers Global Group (SMGG), in collaboration with the French National Railways (SNCF) and the Watford Group, is preparing an international gathering in Paris on 14-16 October 2026 that marks a new step for the long-running Watford Conference tradition. Founded in 1963 as a discussion space for architects, designers, and railway professionals, the Watford Conference has built a reputation for connecting operational reality with design and planning aims. The 2026 edition continues that legacy while moving to a more structured, high-level training programme with a certification aspect.

At its heart is a message that resonates across the sector: railway facilities should no longer be understood merely as functional interfaces for transport. They are becoming strategic urban and industrial assets – places and systems where mobility choices, land use, passenger and staff experiences, operational performance, and sustainability objectives meet.

Against this backdrop, the Paris training course will explore how the design, delivery, and operation of railway buildings and infrastructure influence cities and mobility systems, while also addressing broader design aspects related to railway products and rolling stock environments.

A programme designed for learning and comparison

The format is built around a combination of expert presentations, international case studies, and high-level peer-led discussions, complemented by technical visits and on-site learning. By bringing together perspectives from different countries and disciplines, organisers aim to move beyond “best practice” narratives and instead compare approaches, constraints, and implementation pathways.

Participants can expect sessions covering the planning, development, and management of a wide range of railway assets, including how to enhance user experience (passengers and staff), integrate multimodal connections, and embed sustainability, resilience, and maintainability into planning and delivery. The programme also aims to strengthen professional networks across the railway built-environment community, connecting operational leaders with planners, designers, engineers, and infrastructure specialists.

Focus theme: Railway infrastructure and urban transformation

The 2026 theme “Railway infrastructure and urban transformation” will set the tone for discussions on how rail shapes growth and regeneration, from central districts to suburban areas. The goal is to look beyond stations and consider the entire railway ecosystem (stations, technical centres, depots and maintenance facilities, bridges, tunnels, interfaces with surrounding neighbourhoods, and architectural components associated with rolling stock) as part of a wider system that can influence urban form, accessibility, and economic activity.

Paris as a “living laboratory”

The event will be hosted in Paris, at the heart of global railway cooperation. Therefore, the training course will offer direct insight into one of Europe's most dynamic areas in terms of transport and urban change. Exclusive technical visits will be part of the programme, with additional visits and networking opportunities also being offered around the event, including at the weekend.

Call for contributions

Professionals interested in sharing their experience and projects will be invited to submit presentations on a broad range of railway planning and delivery topics, including design, construction, and operations – with particular attention being paid to railway buildings and facilities (including technical centres), engineering structures (bridges and tunnels), architectural and interior rolling stock-related components, as well as graphics and corporate identity.

Registration is now open on the event page at: https://uic.org/events/56th-watford-conference-to-be-held-from-14-16-october-2026-in-paris

Information about the call for papers will also be available on the website from 20 May 2026.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

New TRESPAD 2026 video “Alert Today, Safe Tomorrow”: Preventing trespass and level crossing accidents

2026-05-18T08:05:57Z

Around the world, regardless of country or culture, the rail industry faces shared challenges at level crossings and along railway lines.

The majority of collisions occur when individuals deliberately take risks or make poor decisions, often driven by oversight, habit or simply being distracted. Therefore, reducing these incidents requires a comprehensive approach.

Trespass events on or near railway tracks affect the entire rail industry, with a negative impact on safety, performance, reputation, costs, and efficiency. The issue also affects society as a whole and is therefore something that we must tackle together.

Trespass Awareness Day (TRESPAD) is UIC's second global initiative to raise awareness of the risks at and around railway tracks and premises to prevent accidents, incidents, and casualties.

By raising awareness, educating the public, and working closely with partners across multiple sectors, TRESPAD and International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) are committed to reducing incidents and ultimately saving lives.

This year's TRESPAD and ILCAD slogan: “Alert today, safe tomorrow”, perfectly captures this drive. The campaign aims to help level crossing users better understand the risks they face and to encourage safer, more responsible behaviour.

The 2026 campaign includes:

A new video compilation, featuring CCTV footage from several countries, highlighting common instances of level crossing misuse.
A series of posters developed by UIC, demonstrating how to cross level crossings safely.

Please click the following links to learn more:

5TH edition of the TRESPAD campaign: www.trespad.org
The international conference to launch TRESPAD 2026 will take place in person at UIC in Paris on 10 June 2026 more information here : https://trespad.org/conference/
TRESPAD 2026 playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUdND40cgRleaGn0TA8xOphvRrW1CeCAm
TRESPAD 2026 video in English https://youtu.be/JaDhdf1hUrY

The ILCAD video was also published not long ago, and can be found at: https://uic.org/com/enews/article/just-released-ilcad-2026-video-english-version

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC at the ITF Summit: advancing rail's role in climate finance and resilient transport systems

2026-05-13T10:21:28Z

The 2026 International Transport Forum Summit provided UIC with a golden opportunity to engage with policymakers, financial institutions, and international partners on the future of sustainable and resilient transport. The theme for the ITF 2026 Summit was “Funding Resilient Transport”, which is part of the 2025-2027 ITF Summit trilogy on transport resilience, focusing on mobilising investment and financing strategies to strengthen the resilience of transport systems. The summit explored ways to enhance long-term connectivity, efficiency, and reliability in transport infrastructure and operations.

This year, UIC took part in the summit to reinforce a clear message: rail must not only be recognised as a sustainable mode of transport, but as a strategic solution for a resilient transport system as a whole. This message was reflected in the various meetings between UIC and its trusted partners, including fellow transport associations, international organisations, multilateral development banks, and financial institutions such as Europe's Rail, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), Alstom, and FS Italiane. Representing rail, their presence reinforced the importance of collective action to expand innovation, investment, and resilient transport solutions. The discussions also showed that there was fertile ground for cooperation on certain intersections between rail and urban planning, regional development, and intermodality, among others.

UIC was represented by Director General François Davenne, alongside Lucie Anderton (Director of Sustainability), Joo Hyun Ha (Head of Advocacy), Michele Gesualdi (Senior Advisor for High-Speed Rail), and Anton Beck (Advisor for Partnerships), who contributed to discussions on climate finance, infrastructure resilience, high-speed rail development, and strategic partnerships.

Advancing climate finance for rail

A key focus of UIC's engagement was expanding discussions on climate finance and carbon markets.

Transport decarbonisation discussions often remain heavily focused on vehicle technology and electrification. UIC highlighted the need for greater attention to “avoid and shift” measures, particularly in terms of a modal shift to rail, both for passengers and freight. This is especially vital as while rail delivers substantial emissions reductions while generating broader benefits such as reduced congestion, improved air quality, and more efficient land use, these benefits are often overlooked in existing financing models and return on investment assessments.

At the summit, UIC also entered into discussions with development finance institutions and partners to explore how carbon markets and innovative financing mechanisms can better recognise avoided emissions and help secure greater investment in rail and public transport infrastructure. Furthermore, to help move from concept to implementation, UIC is also developing the Coalition for Rail in Carbon Markets. This is a multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together transport operators, financial institutions, development banks, and technical experts to develop and advocate for realistic carbon credit methodologies for rail and public transport projects. The coalition will initially focus on urban mass transit, high-speed rail, and the road-to-rail freight modal shift, while supporting pilot projects and advocacy efforts to ensure that these sectors can better access international carbon markets under evolving frameworks such as Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

During the “Spotlight on Research” session, a UIC High-Speed project presented an overview of financing models and instruments for HSR infrastructure. Alongside outlining the characteristics and use-case for Public Delivery and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, the applicability of Regulated Asset Base (RAB) models in the context of HSR infrastructure funding were introduced, and the importance of expanding opportunities and methodologies for carbon credit revenues to rail was emphasised.

Connecting transport with urban development

UIC also used the opportunity to strengthen dialogue between the railway sector and the urban development community.

As cities continue to grow, transport infrastructure must be better integrated with land-use planning and urban development strategies. Discussions focused on how stronger cooperation can support more efficient urban growth, transit-oriented development, and new financing opportunities linked to accessibility and land-value creation. This discussion also builds on UIC's partnership with UN-Habitat through an existing Memorandum of Understanding. A meeting between Davenne and Anacláudia Rossbach at the summit further reaffirmed both organisations' shared commitment to strengthening the links between rail, urban development, and sustainable land-use planning.

Building resilience through long-term planning

In the context of growing climate, economic, and geopolitical uncertainty, UIC also highlighted rail's long-term advantages through energy efficiency, lower exposure to fossil fuel volatility, resilient infrastructure, and strong performance during disruptions.

At the ITF Summit Ministerial Roundtable on vision-led transport planning, Davenne highlighted the need to align long-term transport planning with financing models that support resilient, low-carbon infrastructure. He emphasised rail's role in strengthening connectivity, resilience, and decarbonisation, while calling for innovative financing approaches to better capture rail's long-term climate benefits.

Looking ahead: advancing rail's role in future transport systems

Throughout the summit, UIC also reinforced its role as both a technical expert and rail's advocate – helping shape innovative financing solutions while ensuring rail remains central to international discussions on sustainable, resilient transport systems.

Discussions at this year's ITF Summit highlighted growing momentum to better align transport, climate and finance agendas – reaffirming rail's essential role in building the transport systems of the future.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Rail connects Europe: new direct connection from Berlin via Copenhagen to Oslo

2026-05-12T08:57:17Z

ICE L will operate to Northern Europe from the end of 2027 • New direct
connection in cooperation with Norwegian Vy and Danish DSB • Today, over 25
million passengers travel abroad on 300 long-distance services every day •
Passenger numbers up by around 30 per cent since 2019

(Berlin, May 9th 2026) It will be one of the longest rail routes across Europe: From summer 2028, Deutsche Bahn (DB) will offer a new daily direct service between Berlin and Oslo via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö and Gothenburg, in cooperation with the Norwegian company Vy and the Danish company DSB. The service will be operated with the ICE L, DB's newest train. Two daily return services are planned. The journey time for the entire route from Berlin to Oslo will be around 14–15 hours.

From December 2027, the ICE L will already be operating between Hamburg and Copenhagen. The new direct service Hamburg–Copenhagen–Oslo is one of ten pilot projects supported by the European Commission for new cross-border long-distance rail connections. Particularly in light of the current oil crisis, rail travel is also proving popular for journeys to other European countries, with stable offers and reliable prices.

Michael Peterson, Member of the Management Board for Long Distance Passenger Transport at DB: “If you want to experience Europe, hop on a train! With fuel prices so high, long-distance trains remain a great alternative to driving or flying. With our new international service from Berlin via Copenhagen to Oslo, we're connecting Northern Europe even more closely – and linking three capital cities by rail.”

DB is currently experiencing a boom in demand for long-distance international rail services: since 2019, nearly a third more people have switched to climate friendly rail travel for their journeys across Europe. That amounts to over 25 million passengers – and the trend is upward. Between Stuttgart and Paris, the ICE and TGV services, with their unbeatable journey time of under three and a half hours, have even replaced direct flights between the two cities since this spring. DB has also recently expanded its services to Eastern Europe: in the 2026 timetable, two new daily direct services link the European economic regions of Leipzig, Wrocław and Kraków.

These European routes were particularly popular in 2025:

Munich–Zurich: plus 27 % [1]
Frankfurt–Paris: plus 22 % [2]
Cologne–Brussels: plus 16 % [3]

New and seasonal highlights for Europe's rail enthusiasts this year:

From mid-June: Launch of the direct service between Copenhagen – Hamburg – Berlin – Prague, with two return services per day
Between June 3rd and August 31st: additional summer ICE service from Cologne to Brussels, continuing on weekends to Ghent, Bruges and Ostend on the Belgian coast
Again this year, every Saturday in July and August: direct service from Frankfurt am Main to Bordeaux, starting on July 4th
From September 7th: four daily ICE services between Cologne and Antwerp, stopping at Brussels Airport for the first time and thus providing a connection to the ICE network

Simplified ticketing for train journeys in Europe:
Since the introduction of the new OSDM data standard by European railways and distribution service providers, buying international tickets has become even easier and more convenient. Tickets for ÖBB, SBB, SNCF, Eurostar, Trenitalia and SJ are now available directly via DB's digital sales channels, bahn.de and DB Navigator: Customers can, for example, book connections between Rome and Naples, Toulouse and London, or even from Barcelona on the Mediterranean to Northern Sweden in a single transaction with just a few clicks. More than 8,000 additional European destinations are now available: by high-speed train, night train or regional train. This also includes stops on the respective local public transport networks. And DB is constantly expanding its offering: the Dutch railway operator NS, for example, will be added later this year.

The new system is paying off: since international tickets for European railways on local and long-distance services have been available directly via DB's digital sales channels, sales for these tickets have increased by 75 per cent.

OSDM offers numerous benefits for customers: they usually receive clear pricing information for their desired connections immediately, including special offers from international rail operators. Furthermore, all booked tickets, including those from other rail operators, can be conveniently viewed and managed in the DB customer account.

Travel around Europe with the best ticket:
There are great savings and special offers available for cross-border travel to many European countries: from 19,99 Euro with super saver and saver fares to destinations including Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands: International journeys.

[1] Passenger growth compared to 2024

[2] Passenger growth compared to 2024

[3] Passenger growth compared to 2024

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

The Steering Committee of the Statistics Platform holds its spring meeting in Strasbourg

2026-05-12T08:00:00Z

On 5 and 6 May 2026, the UIC Statistics Steering Committee (SSC) met in Strasbourg, France, at the invitation of the French National Railways (SNCF), to discuss ongoing work related to the harmonisation of railway statistics, data collection processes, railway indicators, and digital tools for railway data management.

The new edition of the Eurostat/International Transport Forum at the OECD (ITF-OECD)/United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Glossary for Transport Statistics has now been published. Several SSC members also contributed to the French and German translations of the rail chapter. Preparations were also launched for the upcoming Eurostat Rail Transport Statistics Expert Group meeting, including discussions on mirror-check statistics for international freight transport and the counting of interoperable railway lines within the Registers of Infrastructure (RINF) framework.

Additionally, a second survey on punctuality and reliability statistics (Table 19) confirmed the absence of harmonised methodologies among infrastructure managers, particularly concerning the measurement of delays, cancelled trains, and freight delivery performance. Further investigations will continue through the analysis of reference documents such as network statements, contingency plans, and resilience measures, before the topic is revisited at the next SSC meeting.

Several explanatory note clarifications and revisions were also agreed upon in order to improve the consistency of railway statistics, notably concerning energy consumption reporting by infrastructure managers and variables related to high-speed infrastructure and operations. Important decisions were also made regarding the revision of high-speed infrastructure statistics, including the deletion of variables with very low response rates and a clarification of the definition of high-speed lines and sections.

The committee also noted a decline in responses to International Railway Statistics data collections and increasing difficulty in obtaining data from certain railway companies in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Members further discussed the European rail freight market's reduced coverage and the need to improve the representativeness of UIC statistics, as well as inconsistencies between different UIC datasets and the need to progressively unify data collection processes for statistics, sustainability, safety, and energy databases within a single framework.

On digitalisation and data management, the SSC reviewed the development of Railisa subscriptions and the new availability of API access for external users. They also further discussed railway traffic trends, resilience indicators, and sustainability reporting. A future publication on railway resilience following the COVID-19 pandemic will be prepared.

The next SSC meeting will take place on 6-7 October 2026 in Berlin, hosted by the German Federal Railways (DB), followed by the Statistics Platform Plenary Meeting on 19 November 2026 at the UIC headquarters in Paris.

More information on the meeting can be found on the UIC extranet.

UIC members are invited to keep on providing their data using our online tool at: http://stats.uic.org/.

To download UIC data, please visit Railisa at: http://uic-stats.uic.org/.

For any information concerning the statistics at UIC, please send an email to stat at uic.org.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC Africa Safety Task Force focuses on risk assessment

2026-05-07T09:01:59Z

As part of its 2026 Work Programme, the UIC Africa Safety Task Force held two workshops, on 25 March and 6 May 2026, focused on railway risk assessment.

These meetings aimed to strengthen a harmonised and structured approach to risk management across African railways, in alignment with international and regional safety frameworks.

The sessions covered, among other things:

An introduction to the European regulatory framework, primarily the CSM-RA under Regulation (EU) No 402/2013, as well as details of the HARMO COSMERA project, which aim to harmonise risk assessment practices in Europe and beyond.
A presentation by ONCF (Morocco) on the mature and structured railway risk management system fully embedded in its Safety Management System (SMS). Risk management is a continuous process based on hazard identification, risk analysis and evaluation, and the implementation of control measures.
An explanation of the operational railway risks along the Transgabonais line by SETRAG (Gabon), highlighting exposure to natural hazards (rain, landslides), track and rolling stock degradation, urban and forest intrusions, and human and environmental risks. These risks are assessed using a risk matrix combining probability and severity, and supported by incident statistics.
The Common Safety Method on Risk Assessment (CSM RA), presented by South Africa's Railway Safety Regulator, which provides a harmonised framework to manage risks linked to technical, operational and organisational changes.
A detailed CAMRAIL case study from Cameroon, illustrating a legally grounded and data driven risk assessment process based on severity and frequency, risk mapping, and a decision-oriented risk matrix.

Overall, these two workshops confirm that risk assessment is a key lever for continuous improvement, supporting safer railway operations and increased cooperation among African rail networks.

The work of the Africa Safety Task Force will continue in 2026 with a focus on:

Railways' resilience and climate change adaptation
Monitoring systems: key to railway safety

UIC is delighted to continue working on these issues, which we hope will help to improve operations and safety in the region over the coming years.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Just released: ILCAD 2026 video (English version)

2026-05-06T14:45:32Z

Across the globe – regardless of country or culture – the rail industry faces shared challenges at level crossings and along railway lines.

The majority of collisions occur when individuals take deliberate risks or make poor decisions, often driven by distraction, habit or simple inattention. Reducing these incidents requires a comprehensive approach.

To tackle the risks, stakeholders use a combination of:

Risk assessments
Technical solutions and innovation to upgrade the most dangerous level crossings
Education and awareness campaigns to promote safe behaviour
Enforcement measures, where necessary, to address unsafe conduct near tracks and crossings

By raising awareness, educating the public and working closely with partners across multiple sectors, ILCAD and TRESPAD are committed to reducing incidents and ultimately saving lives.

This year's ILCAD slogan: “Alert today, safe tomorrow”, perfectly captures this ambition. The campaign aims to help level crossing users better understand the risks they face and to encourage safer, more responsible behaviour.

The 2026 campaign includes:

A new video compilation, featuring CCTV footage from several countries, highlighting common instances of level crossing misuse.
A series of posters developed by UIC, demonstrating how to cross level crossings safely.

Learn more:

18th edition of ILCAD: www.ilcad.org
ILCAD 2026 launch conference: https://www.ilcad.org/conference
ILCAD 2026 video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUdND40cgRlfLKqSuNj_WnfSvAPAkm5vl

English version of the video: https://youtu.be/vZHlOYqUwgU

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Save the date: Investment and Financing Solutions for Africa's Railway Future Forum

2026-05-06T10:29:00Z

As African countries advance efforts to expand and modernise their railway networks, unlocking finance at scale remains a central challenge. The Investment and Financing Solutions for Africa's Railway Future Forum, co-organised by UIC and ONCF on 14 – 15 October 2026 in Rabat, will convene key stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to discuss how to accelerate investment and strengthen the enabling environment for rail development.

The conference will focus on mobilising diverse sources of finance, improving project preparation and delivery, and supporting strategic investments in urban mobility and cross-border freight corridors. It will also explore the potential role of carbon markets and carbon credits in supporting rail projects. By bringing together decision-makers and practitioners, the event aims to foster dialogue, share lessons learned, and identify practical pathways to advance rail investment across Africa.

Draft Agenda

Wednesday 14 October 2026
08:30-09:30: Registration and welcome coffee
09:30-11:00: Official opening session and Introductory Speech
11:00-11:30: Official visit of the exhibition area
11:30-13:00: First session: Roundtable: Mobilizing capital for rail and innovative financing mechanisms
13:00-14:30: Lunch break
14:30-16:00: Second session: Roundtable: Urban rail & mobility financing
16:00-16:30: Coffee break and booth visits
16:30-18:00: Third session: Roundtable: Regional integration & freight corridors
20:00-22:00: Official dinner & Awards

Thursday 15 October 2026
09:00-09:30: Welcome coffee
9:30-11:00: Fourth session: Roundtable: Project preparation & bankability
11:00-11:30: Coffee break and booth visits
11:30-12:30: Closing Ceremony: Rabat Declaration and Launch of Coalition
12:30-13:30: Lunch break
13:30-14:30: B2B meetings

Registration here.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Save the date: SEESARI – UIC high-level conference & regional days

2026-05-06T09:30:13Z

Driving the future of rail: Connectivity, sustainability and digital transformation

South-East Europe Strategic Alliance for Rail Innovation (SEESARI) and the UIC, (main organisers), together with the Saobraćajni institut CIP (CIP) as co-organiser, will host a major international railway event in Belgrade on 17 June 2026.

South-East Europe is at a strategic crossroads, where rail connectivity has become essential to economic sovereignty, regional stability and integration into global trade corridors. As countries move towards European standards and integration into the TEN-T network, rail must play a central role in sustainable growth and competitiveness, despite ongoing challenges such as fragmented infrastructure and the need for modernisation.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the SEESARI initiative, this high-level conference will bring together political leaders, railway executives, financial institutions and industry stakeholders. The objective is to define a shared vision for a more connected and competitive regional railway system, to accelerate cross-border cooperation and to mobilise investment in infrastructure, digitalisation and innovation.

Discussions will focus on four key priorities:

Regional connectivity and integration
Developing seamless cross-border rail links and strengthening integration into European corridors.
Investment and financing
Unlocking large-scale funding for modern, resilient and sustainable rail infrastructure.
Competitive rail freight and logistics
Positioning rail as a backbone of regional and international supply chains though concrete projects to support international corridors – interoperable solutions.
Innovation and technological leadership
Deploying next-generation solutions, including digital operations and data sharing, 5G telecoms/FRMCS, predictive maintenance and automation.

The event is expected to identify priority projects, foster partnerships and reinforce the role of UIC in supporting implementation and standardisation. More broadly, it will position South-East Europe as a key gateway between Europe and global markets.

Strategic message: Rail is a driver of sovereignty, connectivity and sustainable prosperity. Through strengthened cooperation, targeted investment and the support of partners such as UIC, South-East Europe has the opportunity to build a modern, interoperable and future-ready railway system, fully integrated into the European and global transport network.

More information and registration for the high-level conference here: https://uic.org/events/seesari-uic-high-level-conference-regional-days

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Railways celebrating World Environment Day 2026: A global call for climate action

2026-05-06T09:15:00Z

On 5 June 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 (GMT+2), railway leaders, sustainability experts, and international stakeholders will come together for a global webinar marking World Environment Day.

Organised by UIC, this event will highlight the critical role that railways play in shaping a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.

The webinar will focus on climate change adaptation and resilience, aiming to:

Recognise the significance of World Environment Day and the railway sector's contribution to sustainability
Encourage cross-regional knowledge sharing on climate challenges and solutions
Highlight vulnerabilities in rail systems and explore the action needed to strengthen resilience globally

Programme

Introduction:
- Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Chair of the UIC Africa Region and CEO of the Moroccan National Railways (ONCF), will share the company's experience and action on resilience.
- A representative from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) - TBC
- Lucie Anderton, UIC Head of Sustainability, delivering the introductory keynote speech

A dedicated presentation from ONCF, which will further emphasise the importance of a strong Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) strategy

International case studies from Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), and the Chilean State Railways (EFE)

The webinar will be held in English and French.

Registration

Participants are invited to register on the dedicated page here: Railways Celebrating World Environment Day 2026: A Global Call for Climate Action

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Strengthening the feed supply chain: UIC and GMP+ International join forces

2026-05-06T08:21:47Z

Safe and hygienic transport is the backbone of the global feed industry. As UIC freight members move significant volumes of feed across the globe, our commitment to safety and sustainability remains a top priority. We are proud to collaborate within the GMP+ Subcommittee Transport to develop and refine rigorous standards for the railway sector.

By working together, we ensure that the journey from farm to rail is as safe as it is efficient.

We want to hear from you! To better serve our agricultural clients and align with global green goals, UIC is supporting the GMP+ Sustainability Survey. Your insights will help us to understand the evolving needs of the sector and shape a more sustainable future for feed logistics.

Survey link: (please circulate)

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Standardisation Platform Plenary session held, focusing on its Strategy 2030

2026-05-04T09:11:14Z

On 28 April 2026, the Standardisation Platform met to make progress on the implementation of its Standardisation Strategy 2030 through an updated multi-year work programme, an accelerated migration plan from UIC Leaflets to IRSs, and a stronger cooperation with external standardisation and regulatory bodies both within the EU and outside of it.

A key focus in 2026 is the effective implementation of the Strategy 2030, which requires the UIC Standardisation Guideline to be updated; improved processes to embed new concepts, operational action, and key aspects of the leaflet-to-IRS migration plan; and new IRSs and systematic review processes. The revised approach is built on three main pillars: a clearer IRS typology, an updated process-cycle supported by a dedicated digital and standardised document, and stronger strategic alignment via a field-specific priority matrix.

To meet the sector's demands, UIC is speeding up the migration strategy from leaflets to IRSs, including categorising selected leaflets as “Legacy-technology documents” – with no technical content updates and only editorial adjustments – to accelerate publication. This work is supported by a new IRS typology set that define six different categories (including the latter category) and by strengthened the systematic review principles.

UIC is also advancing the digitalisation of standardisation processes, including the development and implementation of Form4IRS, integrated in the Extranet, and enhancements to IT tools such as the Consultation Portal and IRS database. These improvements aim to automate processes, improve traceability, enhance information sharing among members, and support end-to-end online consultations and archiving.

In parallel, UIC will solidify cooperation with external standardisation and regulatory bodies, in particular with the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), European Committee for Standardisation (CEN)/European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation(CENELEC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)/TC 269 and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)/TC9 and others in southern Africa and North America. These partnerships reinforce UIC's commitment to interoperability, transparency, and global alignment while maintaining strong support for its member needs.

As part of the UIC Standardisation Platform, the roadmap for 2026 includes close cooperation with UIC technical bodies, practical tests for key process points, and finalising the new Standardisation Guideline and related processes.

This programme is designed to enhance the added value of UIC technical documents and ensure the right IRSs and other technical publications are developed for the right purpose across the rail sector.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Building a sustainable future: the UIC-KORAIL 2026 IRaTCA training session concludes its three year roadmap

2026-04-29T10:00:00Z

Hosted by the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) from 6 to 10 April, the 2026 UIC–KORAIL International Railway Training Centre for UIC Asia (IRaTCA) training session successfully concluded in Seoul under the theme “Strategic Dialogue for the Future in Railway”. This third session marked the final phase of a three year sustainability roadmap, evolving from policy learning in 2024 and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) best practice sharing in 2025 to the joint development of regional policies in 2026.

The session brought together 16 key representatives from 10 countries, fostering strong cooperation across the Asia Pacific rail network. East Asia was strongly represented, with participation from the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), China Railway (CR), the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS), the China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. (CRECC), and Ulaanbaatar Railways (UBTZ) of Mongolia, all contributing valuable regional perspectives. Engagement was further strengthened by participants from Vietnam Railways, Thailand's Department of Rail Transport (DRT), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Philippines, and Malaysia's Railway Assets Corporation, alongside experts from the Indian Ministry of Railways, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), and the Department of Transport Victoria of Australia.

The five day curriculum was a joint achievement of UIC and KORAIL's IRaTCA International Cooperation Department, led by Director Ki dong Kwon, Deputy Director Hak soo Kim, and Managers Won young Park and Na won Yang. The programme successfully integrated global sustainability frameworks with regional operational priorities through a wide range of expertise:

Technical innovation: Specialists from KORAIL and the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) delivered sessions on the Korean Emissions Trading Scheme (K ETS) and eco friendly railway technologies.
Strategic design and moderation: Lucie Anderton, UIC Sustainability Director, provided on site technical expertise and moderation in Seoul, supported by remote strategic input and preparatory work from Christine Vanoppen, Sustainability Manager at Infrabel.
Knowledge exchange: Each session concluded with interactive group discussions and national case presentations, encouraging open dialogue and shared learning among participants.

To anchor theoretical knowledge in practical application, participants took part in several technical field visits. At the Metropolitan Rolling Stock Depot, they observed advanced safety management systems, including robotic arms and automated parts retrieval processes. A visit to the KORAIL Human Resources Development Centre offered insight into Korea's railway workforce training framework, while a tour of Seoul Station highlighted practical ESG initiatives, such as public seating made from recycled plastic materials. A Seoul city tour further enriched the programme by providing participants with a deeper appreciation of the host country's cultural heritage.

Chin Whan Cho, Head of KORAIL's Overseas Business Headquarters, underlined the importance of the partnership, stating:
“Railways, as one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport, play a pivotal role in global ESG strategies. Building on the outcomes of this training series, we will continue to strengthen collaboration with UIC member countries to ensure that rail contributes meaningfully to achieving carbon neutrality.”

The programme was coordinated under the leadership of Philippe Lorand, UIC Director of Institutional Relations, Advocacy and Communications and Asia Pacific Coordinator, with the support of Yuke Li, Asia Pacific Region Adviser. The completion of this strategic cycle secured strong momentum for regional cooperation and technical excellence, paving the way for future specialised programmes within the Asia Pacific training calendar.

Upcoming 2026 training opportunities

As the sustainability cycle concludes, the UIC Asia Pacific Region has confirmed its continued commitment to capacity building through the following specialised programmes:

JR East Hospitality and Service Training: 1–5 June 202
JR East Infrastructure Management Training: October 2026

These initiatives will continue to provide a platform for regional cooperation, further strengthening connectivity and expertise across the Asia Pacific railway network.

For further information, please contact the APRA team at aprateam at uic.org.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Driving the future of rail: Key outcomes from the Rail System Forum (RSF) Plenary (April 2026)

2026-04-28T14:47:00Z

Jointly chaired by Robert Ampomah, Network Rail, and Adriano Scapati, UIC Rail System Director, on 23 April 2026, the bi-annual Rail System Forum (RSF) Plenary session brought together UIC members to discuss:

The development of technical and operational standards to foster interoperability and international cooperation, including technical leaflets, specifications, labels ,and guidelines widely adopted by UIC members.
Activities within the sectors of: Operations and safety; Telecoms and signalling; Asset management; Railway digital modelling; Infrastructure subsystem; Interfaces and interaction between infrastructure subsystem and rolling stock; Rolling stock; Energy; and Research and innovation.
The ambitious plan for the full migration and modernisation of UIC's standardisation system by 2029, through International Railway Solutions (IRSs), supported by systematic surveys and global member engagement.

The main items of the agenda of the Plenary included:

Announcement of Domenico Scida, Trenitalia, being nominated as Chair and Thierry Fort, SNCF Voyageurs, as Co-Chair of the Rolling Stock Sector
Introduction of a multi-annual business plan for the Rolling Stock Sector to ensure long-term operational and financial sustainability and greater strategic impact
Launch of the Rolling Stock Maintenance Working Group (SET 13)
Presentation of the labelling initiative within IRS 50541-00 to set out and detail the former certification (now labelling) scheme
Call for experts for the Operations Sector, to support the implementation of the UIC Strategy through operations-related activities
A presentation by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and an update of the European Technical Agenda
Sector Multi-Annual Work Programme presentations, including their status, the opt-ins for 2026-2027 and sector reports
Overview of the existing partnerships and cooperation with other standardisation and regulatory bodies in the European Union (e.g. European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), the European Committee for Standardisation/ European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CEN/CENLEC), etc.) and outside the EU.

The next RSF Plenary session will be held on 22 October 2026.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Programme published: ILCAD and TRESPAD Launch Conferences on 9-11 June 2026

2026-04-28T14:36:43Z

UIC is delighted to invite you to the international launch conferences of the 18th edition of Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) and the 5th edition of Trespass Awareness Day (TRESPAD) taking place in person, in English and French, at the UIC headquarters in Paris on 9 and 10 June 2026.

These events will bring together road and rail safety experts to discuss ideas and share best practices on:

Level crossing safety
Trespass prevention
Suicide prevention

Around 200 delegates are expected to attend, with 18 speakers at ILCAD and 20 at TRESPAD from around Europe, including France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, as well as from Morocco, Canada, the USA, Japan.

Alongside these conferences, an exhibition will be held with industry leaders from the sector, including the SNCF Group (France), Wavetrain (Norway), Imotion Analytics (Spain), Hitachi (France), IDS (Italy), Schweizer Electronic (France), Zöllner GmbH (Germany), Gmundener Fertigteile-Bodan (Austria), East Japan Railway Company (Japan, Paris Office), IHI Corporation (Japan), Sankosha Co. Ltd (Japan) and Universal Signalling (UK).

These companies are generously supporting the events and will showcase their innovative solutions on-site during the conferences.

Technical visits, organised with the support of SNCF Réseau, will take place on 11 June 2026.

Visit No.1: Technological Research Institute (TRI) “Railenium” (Rail Research and Innovation: https://railenium.eu/) in Valenciennes, in the north of France. Assets for simulation and testing (especially behaviour at level crossings) developed with SNCF
Visit No.2: Level Crossing N°4 in Deuil-la-Barre (north of Paris)
Visit No.3: Paris Montparnasse Station Control Centre
Visit No.4: Control Command Centre (Centre de Commandement Unique (CCU)) in Pantin, and the iconic stations of Porte Maillot and La Défense

Registration to the conference(s) will close in mid May, please click here to sign up now.

Programmes for the ILCAD and TRESPAD conferences and technical visits are available at https://www.ilcad.org/conference/ and https://trespad.org/conference/.

For the ILCAD and TRESPAD campaigns, this year, the public in general is being targeted with the slogan “Alert today – Safe tomorrow”.

More information on both campaigns can be found at:
www.ilcad.org
www.trespad.org

We look forward to seeing you in June 2026!

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Upcoming Innovation Workshop – “From tickets to accounts: designing account-based journeys”

2026-04-28T10:07:36Z

Innovation Workshops organised by the UIC Passenger Services Group explore emerging industry and technology trends and their impact on the rail sector. Each workshop brings together expert insights, interactive sessions, and hands on joint creation activities, supported by digital collaboration tools to encourage active participation and knowledge sharing.

The next workshop titled “From tickets to accounts: designing account-based journeys” will take place on 4 June 2026, from 9:00 to 15:30 at UIC in Paris. The event will be held in hybrid form, allowing participants to attend either in-person or online.

Account-based ticketing (ABT) is currently gaining momentum, as by moving fare logic to the back office, it enables media-agnostic travel, best-fare capping, faster product rollouts, lower operating costs, and a seamless passenger experience. In many contexts, it also reduces the need for pre-purchased tickets and passes. Available models include open-loop EMV, closed-loop, and app-based options, each with distinct operational, technology, and governance implications.

In this workshop, an overview of the different ABT models, their pros and cons, and their applicability to various contexts and customer segments will be presented. Best practices and lessons learned from real-world case histories will be shared, alongside present approaches to tackling ABT challenges in multi-operator and multi-modal settings and a decision framework to support strategic choices.

Together, the latest developments and the opportunities for the passenger rail industry will be explored.

Workshop takeaways:

Understand ABT benefits, challenges, and best practices
Understand the operational, technology, and governance implications of different ABT models
Explore standards and digital tools to streamline multi-operator, multi-modal ABT
Gain insights into how digital wallets can enable new opportunities to improve ABT
Discover how federations can pave the way for interoperability across ABT systems
Learn from real-world case studies and lessons from leading industry stakeholders
Discuss opportunities and challenges with technology experts and industry peers
Attend breakout sessions, conducted in a digital collaborative workspace
Contribute with colleagues on how to make an impact on passenger rail

Registration for the workshop is now open. Please sign up at link.

Read the Innovation Workshop Flyer:

Save the date for two additional innovation workshops planned in 2026:

From chat to action: will Agentic AI transform the travel experience?
Rome and online, 10 September 2026
From mass to one-to-one in rail: real-time hyper-personalised information and offers
Paris and online, 28 October 2026

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC hosts the Wagon Damage Settlement Group (the Lucerne Group)

2026-04-27T12:08:55Z

On 22 and 23 April 2026, UIC had the privilege of hosting an in-person meeting of the Wagon Damage Settlement Group.

Founded in Lucerne in 2012, this study group was launched after the observation was made that many parties to the General Contract of Use for Wagons (GCU) interpret the agreement, assess liability issues, and, in particular, handle the settlement and processing of freight wagon damage claims in different ways. Representatives of the former German-speaking state railways therefore decided to meet regularly to share views and have clear discussions.

The Lucerne Group provides a forum for discussing current problem cases, clearing up misunderstandings, and finding common approaches to the interpretation of the GCU and the handling of freight wagons. In particular, personal contact with claims adjusters from the member companies facilitates the processing of claims.

To date, the group already has representatives from Luxembourg though CFL Cargo S.A., Germany through DB Cargo AG, Hexafret from France, Rail Cargo Austria AG, and Switzerland through SBB Cargo AG, with more joining soon!

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

FRMCS Mega Meeting: Aligning the next steps

2026-04-22T12:49:48Z

On 24 and 25 March, UIC hosted a plenary meeting bringing together the railway experts of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) working groups. This “FRMCS Mega Meeting” represented a key opportunity to align on functional and technical issues of this next generation rail communication standard.

The meeting gathered 42 rail communications experts from several UIC working groups and the ERA telecom team. Its primary goals were to facilitate direct discussions, clarify key functional and technical dependencies, and ensure that all FRMCS activities remain aligned.

We are currently in a pivotal phase of the UIC Plan for the introduction of the FRMCS for railways, which was established in 2019, with all milestones executed in time.

The discussions focused heavily on the delivery of the final iteration of the Version 3 (V3) specifications, which will officially define the FRMCS 1st Edition – the GSM-R succesor.

To achieve this, two key milestones must be met. The first is the delivery of Version V3p of the specifications, planned for November 2026. This version will be fully aligned with Version 3 (V3), pending final inputs from the FP2-MORANE-2 project. The second and final target is the delivery of the ERA-approved V3 set of FRMCS specifications, planned for December 2027.

This collaborative effort ensures that the FRMCS 1st Edition is expected to be available on schedule. This will provide railways and the suppliers industry with a robust, standardised framework for both GSM-R replacement and the future of digital rail operations.

For more information on UIC FRMCS and the FP2 MORANE 2 project (funded by Europe's Rail), please visit the websites below:
https://uic.org/rail-system/telecoms-signalling/frmcs
https://www.fp2morane2.eu/

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

World Public Transport Day 2026: mobilisation from the UIC community

2026-04-22T08:20:31Z

On 17 April 2026, the global transport community came together to celebrate World Public Transport Day, an initiative led by UITP (the International Association of Public Transport), with UIC as a privileged partner.

As part of its mission to promote rail as the backbone of sustainable mobility worldwide, UIC actively supported this initiative, highlighting the essential contribution of rail to the decarbonisation of transport systems and the importance of strengthened cooperation across all public transport modes.

In the lead-up to the event, UIC invited its Members to actively engage in the campaign by sharing messages, showcasing their initiatives, and amplifying the visibility of World Public Transport Day across social networks.

The response from the UIC community was inspiring. Among the contributions, JR East stood out, notably through a video message from the UIC Chair (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450901802251743232), reaffirming the central role of rail in sustainable mobility. Other Members such as VIA Rail Canada, Etihad Rail and RSSB, as well as partners including APTA, also actively supported the initiative. These contributions illustrate the diversity and strength of the UIC network, united around a common objective: positioning public transport, and rail in particular, as a key driver of climate action.

UIC staff also contributed by amplifying the campaign on LinkedIn, further strengthening its visibility and outreach.

UIC will continue to build on this momentum by promoting the outcomes of this collective mobilisation and reinforcing its collaboration with UITP and its partners.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

First UIC Passenger Week: a new hub for ecosystem-wide exchange

2026-04-22T07:50:34Z

UIC organised its first-ever Passenger Week from 13 to 16 April 2026, bringing together over 200 participants from 35 countries and 93 companies. This inaugural edition confirmed both the strong collective commitment to improving the passenger journey across modes and borders, and, crucially, revealed Passenger Week as a new space for dialogue and sharing between the different actors of the mobility ecosystem: railways, public transport stakeholders, technology and distribution partners, stations, public authorities, and passenger representatives. With the support of four sponsors and four media partners, the week demonstrated how UIC members and partners are turning shared discussions into practical, interoperable solutions, with a particular emphasis on multimodality ticketing.

The week opened with dedicated sessions for UIC working group experts, offering a collaborative setting to progress technical work and advance ongoing projects within the UIC Passenger ecosystem.
This expert-focused start ensured that discussions across the rest of the week could build on concrete deliverables, shared methods and operational realities.

The highlight of the week was the Open Day, designed to be accessible to a broad range of stakeholders. The morning focused on multimodality ticketing, blending forward-looking insights with hands-on examples. Participants explored key market trends and lessons learned, and UIC presented the Open MultiModal Toolkit (OMMT) as a practical enabler for integrated mobility services. A series of real-world use cases illustrated how interoperability is being implemented in practice, including both national approaches to distribution and regional solutions, such as interoperable barcodes, as well as concrete pathways taken by organisations in Belgium and Germany. The discussion also covered cross-sector integration, focusing on Air+Rail cooperation and providing an airline perspective on how rail can be embedded into wider travel chains.

In the afternoon, the Open Day continued with a high-level conference that brought rail and public transport leaders together around a shared ambition: Together for global excellence, shaping passenger mobility services. Keynotes and roundtables helped frame current needs and expectations, including contributions from UITP and passenger representatives. Several sessions then focused on the voice of passengers and how customer experience is influencing choices in service design, information, comfort and reliability. Quality of service and standardisation were also discussed through concrete examples, including innovation initiatives at major stations and widely adopted smart ticketing solutions, complemented by perspectives from European and international stakeholders. Further exchanges highlighted the respective roles of operators, station actors and public bodies in delivering sustainable mobility, before a final, forward-looking session, dedicated to innovative passenger solutions developed through UIC collaboration, featured contributions from rail companies, technology partners and industry experts. The day closed with networking opportunities during the gala cocktail, extending discussions beyond the sessions and supporting new project connections.

The final two days were reserved for the Passenger Services Group (PSG) and the Global Passenger Forum (GPF), two key strategic and governance meetings for UIC passenger activities, ensuring continuity between the technical advances showcased earlier in the week and the longer-term direction of UIC's passenger agenda.

Across the week, customer experience and accessibility remained central priorities. The work of the PASSAGE group highlighted progress on accessibility, staff skills and more inclusive services in a multimodal environment, including its International Railway Solution on assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility, reflecting a shared ambition across UIC and UITP to ensure public transport is inclusive and designed around passenger needs.

Knowledge exchange for everyday mobility was also strengthened through the Commuter and Regional Train Services (CRTS) initiative. Following the success of the previous edition in Paris (2025), UIC announced that the 9th CRTS Training would take place in Barcelona in October 2026, and that the first regional edition would be held in Johannesburg (UIC Africa region) in May 2026.

Passenger Week also showcased how rail can deliver inspiring travel experiences through Rail Tourism, notably via the TopRail initiative and the Tourism-Friendly Awards, which recognise innovative projects across rolling stock, onboard services, scenic lines, stations and rail tourism initiatives, highlighting sustainability and high-quality passenger experiences.

Railway stations were presented as increasingly strategic interfaces for sustainable urban mobility, through the work of the Stations Managers Global Group (SMGG). UIC also shared the results of the Brunel Awards 2025, celebrating outstanding achievements in railway architecture, engineering and design.

Finally, high-speed rail remained a major focus, with discussions addressing global developments, research and standards, cooperation platforms such as the UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail, and the need to expand skills and training to support growth. Participants also explored how to scale high-speed systems responsibly, including through new markets and evolving financing approaches in support of the mobility transition.

A dedicated exhibition showcased the passenger mobility achievements delivered by UIC in 2025 and 2026. The exhibition placed a particularly strong emphasis on the work of the Stations Managers Global Group (SMGG), which presented the results of the prestigious Brunel Awards 2025, recognising outstanding achievements in railway architecture, engineering and design. This year's edition received 117 submissions from 23 companies across 12 countries and three continents, reflecting a global commitment to advancing rail design. The competition featured four main categories: Stations; Rolling stock (passenger and freight); Industrial product & graphic design; and Technical infrastructure & environment.

Alongside this flagship focus, the exhibition also highlighted UIC projects across customer experience and accessibility, rail tourism, CRTS, intercity and high-speed rail, as well as ticketing and passenger services, with particular attention paid to key deliverables such as OSDM, OMMT and MERITS.

UIC would like to warmly thank the 300 experts from its 28 active working groups for their outstanding cooperative work, which continues to demonstrate the strength of international collaboration in addressing global mobility challenges.

UIC also extends sincere thanks to the event sponsors EY, Hit Rail, Wiremind and Distribusion, as well as to the media partners IRJ, Railway Pro, Ferpress and Via Libre, for their support and contribution to the success and

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC Freight Forum Spring Session: Presentation of the 2026 - 2028 roadmap

2026-04-17T10:48:47Z

On 14 April 2026, the UIC Freight Forum Spring Session, coordinated by Joost Overdijkink, UIC Freight Senior Advisor, opened with a clear and future-focused message from François Davenne, UIC Director General, who highlighted the freight community's crucial role in the railway sector.

He began by updating the participants that, since the last Freight Forum in October 2025, Bertrand Minary has taken up the role of Freight Director. His upcoming work will shape the Freight Strategy 2026-2028, built on UIC's strategic pillars, and focus on direction, coherence, and impact.

François Davenne also highlighted Clemens Först's substantial contribution, both as CEO of Rail Cargo Group and Chair of this Forum, whose leadership has strengthened the visibility and influence of rail freight across Europe. A new call for candidates is now open for the position of Chair of the Freight Forum, an important step for ensuring continued progress and partnership.

He also reaffirmed UIC's role as the technical backbone of the rail sector, driving system transformation through major initiatives such as the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), Digital Automatic Coupling, interoperability standards, and supporting European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS)/European Train Control System (ETCS) deployment.

The session drew strong participation, reflecting growing engagement within and a revitalisation of the Freight Forum.

Minary then set out the roadmap for 2026–2028, highlighting a collaborative, bottom up approach and introducing six pilot areas to steer delivery. These focus on areas such as advocacy, global standards, operational development and improved service provision, building on the core strengths of UIC Freight in support of its members and the wider rail sector. An update was also given on progress and current priorities across these areas of expertise: wagon utilisation, loading guidelines, data exchange, combined transport, the transport of dangerous goods, operations, exceptional consignments, quality management and continental freight corridors.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Driving harmonised railway safety: HARMO COSMERA and the UIC Latin America Safety Taskforce hold their second risk assessment workshop

2026-04-17T07:36:15Z

UIC recently organised the second of two online workshops on risk assessments between the experts of the UIC Harmonised Risk Assessment Method for Safety (HARMO COSMERA) Project and the UIC Latin America Safety Taskforce, strengthening interregional cooperation in railway safety. The second session in the workshop series continued previous discussions from the HARMO COSMERA initiative with different UIC Regions on harmonised risk assessments.

The meeting took a transversal approach to how risk assessment is handled on both sides of the Atlantic. An overview of the risk assessment approach in Europe, which is based on the Common Safety Method (CSM), was provided by David de Bustos, from SGS, consultant for the HARMO COSMERA Project. This was followed by a presentation from Francisco Cabrera, UIC Project Manager, on the project itself. Then, the different perspectives in countries across Latin America were explained.

Risk assessment in Argentina, presented by Alejandro Leonetti, Argentine Railways (Ferrocarriles Argentinos)
Risk assessment in Chile, Raul Cepeda, Chilean State Railways (EFE)
Risk assessment in Mexico, presented by Ing Belen Cortes and Daniel Telles, Mexican Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport
Risk assessment in Colombia, presented by Jairo Espejo, Lecturer at the Universidad Los Andes in Bogotá

The workshop concluded with a Q&A and general discussion, allowing the participants to share knowledge, compare experiences, and identify future opportunities for collaboration.

Through HARMO COSMERA, UIC is continuing to strengthen harmonisation and improve railway safety across Latin America and beyond, thereby focusing on central topics for the railway community around the world.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC Passenger Week 2026: Shaping the future of global passenger mobility through innovation, multimodality and cooperation

2026-04-15T11:59:55Z

From 13 – 16 April 2026, the UIC Passenger Department is holding its first ever Passenger Week at the UIC Headquarters in Paris with around 200 participants attending in person and online, representing more than 20 passenger transport organisations from 18 countries across several UIC regions.

More than a first edition, this event marks a strategic milestone in positioning UIC as a global platform driving the transformation of passenger mobility systems.

Over the course of four days, this brand-new international event brings together UIC technical group meetings and includes a flagship “open” day, welcoming a broad range of stakeholders from across the passenger rail sector: CEOs and senior executives of passenger business units from railway companies, mobility leaders, industry experts, associations, IT providers, institutional representatives, and academics.

The aim of Passenger Week is to create structured opportunities to connect, exchange expertise, and explore innovative solutions that will shape the future of passenger mobility services. At a time of accelerating climate urgency, rapid urbanisation and evolving passenger expectations, these exchanges contribute to positioning rail as the backbone of sustainable mobility systems.

Moreover, a key dimension of this week is the collaboration across the wider public ecosystem in the shape of UIC's joint engagement with UITP in the World Public Transport Day on 17 April. This initiative reflects a coherent vision of the future of mobility and a common vision to promote public transport as a cornerstone of sustainable mobility worldwide.

This shared ambition was strongly echoed by Gautier Brodeo, President of UITP, who highlighted the need to deliver “seamless, multimodal, passenger-centric mobility” and to ensure that public transport remains “the backbone of sustainable cities and regions.”

Opening remarks and keynote speeches
The event was officially opened by UIC Director General François Davenne, who emphasised:
“We are meeting at a pivotal moment. Across the world, mobility systems are undergoing profound transformation. The urgency of climate action is increasing. Cities are growing and becoming more complex. Passengers are more demanding, more connected, and more attentive to the quality, reliability and simplicity of the services they use. At the same time, digital technologies and innovation are opening new possibilities for how mobility is designed, operated and experienced. In this context, the question is not only how we adapt, but how we lead.”

In his keynote address, Gautier Brodeo, President of UITP, reinforced this perspective by underlining that “passengers are at the heart of public transport” and calling for stronger cooperation across the mobility ecosystem to deliver integrated and accessible services.

Federica Santini, Chair of the UIC Global Passenger Forum, delivered an inspiring speech, in which she said: “We are confronted with a set of profound and interconnected challenges – and, as is often the case, with the opportunity to turn them into drivers of progress. We need to accelerate the digital transformation of our services, actively support the decarbonisation of transport, respond to increasing competition from other modes and new market players, and adapt to evolving regulatory frameworks, while at the same time strengthening the resilience of our sector in the face of major global disruptions. Above all, we must never lose sight of our primary objective: serving our passengers. Their expectations continue to rise, particularly in terms of simplicity, reliability, transparency and quality of service throughout the entire journey.”

A dynamic programme
The week's programme covers a mix of technical sessions, open discussions and high-level meetings, all designed to foster innovation in rail transport.

While the 13 April was dedicated to UIC working group experts – providing a space for in-depth technical discussions and project development – the Open Day on 14 April was a flagship day dedicated to the theme of Multimodality, welcoming experts, partners and the general public. The sessions will continue on 15 and 16 April, hosting in particular the Global Passenger Forum (GPF), which brings together all UIC members involved in passenger transport and which represents a key platform for dialogue and sharing expertise.

Throughout the week, a common objective has emerged: translating dialogue into concrete solutions that improve the passenger journey across modes and borders.

The sessions have addressed the theme of Customer Experience, highlighting the efforts of the PASSAGE group, which is working to improve accessibility, staff skills and more inclusive rail services in a multimodal environment, as well as its International Railway Solution on assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility.

This focus reflects a shared priority across UIC and UITP to ensure that public transport systems are inclusive, accessible and designed around passenger needs.

In parallel, the Commuter and Regional Train Services (CRTS) initiative promotes high-valued knowledge exchange through workshops and trainings. After the success of the previous edition in Paris in 2025, the 9th CRTS Training will take place in Barcelona in October 2026, and the first regional edition will be held in Johannesburg (UIC Africa region) in May 2026.

Rail Tourism was highlighted through the TopRail initiative and the Tourism-Friendly Awards – which recognise innovative projects shaping the future of rail tourism across categories including rolling stock and onboard services, scenic railway lines, stations and rail tourism initiatives, highlighting sustainability and high-quality passenger experiences.

Railway Stations are becoming key interfaces for sustainable urban mobility, and this topic was highlighted through the work of the Stations Managers Global Group (SMGG) and European projects such as Rail4Cities. UIC also presented the results of the prestigious Brunel Awards 2025, which recognise outstanding achievements in railway architecture, engineering, and design.

High-speed development remained a central focus during the event, showcasing major developments, research initiatives, technical standards and global cooperation, including the UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail. Current developments are about exploring new markets, financial models in a societal vision and development of training to support the High-Speed expansion.

These developments reflect a broader ambition to scale rail solutions globally, explore new markets and develop sustainable financing models in support of the mobility transition.

Work is ongoing within the Passenger Services Group (PSG) to improve multimodal solutions, accessibility and the passenger experience. Major UIC European solutions to further simplify international ticketing, gathered in the Open Multi Modal Toolkit (OMMT), are now available for all transport modes, open to any public transport operations and public transport authorities.

In this context, cooperation with UITP, notably through initiatives such as Door2Door, plays a key role in advancing seamless and integrated ticketing between local and long-distance transport systems.

UIC will also continue to expand its Rail Academy, offering new training programmes focused on passenger transport, accessibility, station design and high-speed systems, ensuring that its members are equipped with the skills needed for the future.

Exhibition
The Passenger Week features a special exhibition showcasing the key UIC projects and achievements for passenger mobility delivered in 2025 and 2026.

The panels show how passenger rail is being shaped across several core themes including Customer Experience, Accessibility, Railway Stations, Railway Tourism, Commuter and Regional Train Services (CRTS), Intercity and High-Speed Rail, Ticketing and Passenger Services such as OSDM, OMMT and MERITS.

Together, these highlights celebrated innovation, design excellence, and international cooperation in passenger rail. Moreover, the UIC Passenger Department would like to thank the 300 experts from its 28 active workings groups for the outstanding cooperative job.

More broadly, they illustrate the collective capacity of the rail and public transport community to address global mobility challenges through collaboration and shared expertise.

UIC also extends a huge thank you to its sponsors EY, Hit Rail, Wiremind and Distribusion – as well as to its media partners IRJ, Railway Pro, Ferpress and Via Libre.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

Register now: International Creativity and Innovation Day 2026 in the Africa Region

2026-04-15T08:30:00Z

On 21 April 2026, the dynamic world of innovation ecosystems within the railway sector will be explored, focusing on how collaboration and research drive sustainable mobility. The webinar is titled “Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainable Mobility” and will be held from 11h-13h GMT+2. It has been jointly organised by the Moroccan National Railways (ONCF), a UIC member, and the UIC International Railway Research Board (IRRB), which is responsible for the Regional Competence Hubs (RCHs) for innovation and education across the six UIC regions, including Africa, and provides support, grounded in scientific rigor, through the IRRB Academic Board for Innovation.

Bringing together key industry leaders and academic experts, the session will discuss open innovation models, the integration of startups into the transport landscape, and the vital role of universities in developing the skills and technologies of the future. Participants will gain insight into global partnerships and technological transfers that are shaping smarter, more sustainable transport systems.

More information on the agenda and registration here: https://uic.org/events/international-creativity-and-innovation-day-2026-in-africa-region-innovation

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC meets with the Director General of ANESRIF during an official visit to Algiers

2026-04-15T08:20:00Z

On 7-8 April 2026, UIC Director General François Davenne met with Azzedine Fridi, Director General of the National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investment (ANESRIF) during a visit to the agency's premises, providing a valuable opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between the two organisations.

Discussions focused on prospects for future collaboration in several key areas, including UIC Rail Academy training programmes, standardisation, telecommunications, the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), and digital transformation. It also emphasised the strategic importance of UIC's International Railway Solutions (IRSs), which are already used in Algeria and represent a solid foundation for deeper alignment and enhanced interoperability.

Both parties are looking forward to translating these constructive discussions into concrete action and building strong, long-term partnerships in support of railway development.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC Africa Freight webinar “Rail freight: What is the situation and what does the future hold?”

2026-04-15T08:19:42Z

On 9 April 2026, over 200 participants joined the UIC Africa Freight webinar entitled “Rail freight: What is the situation and what does the future hold?”. The session focused on international rail freight development in Africa, with presentations from various railway companies and UIC representatives.

François Davenne, UIC Director General, opened the session, discussing the importance of safe international traffic between African countries, followed by Bertrand Minary, UIC Director of Freight and Passenger Departments, Coordinator of Middle East and Latin America Regions, who emphasised that rail freight must be integrated into global supply chains and highlighted UIC's support for operations, safety, and digitalisation.

Hakan Gunal, Senior Freight Advisor, then presented UIC's freight corridor approach using the Middle East region as a case study, demonstrating the need for harmonised rules, faster border processes, and digitalisation to create effective cross-border rail freight networks.

Mounir Mhaji, Commercial Director of Freight and Logistics, Moroccan National Railways (ONCF) which holds the UIC Africa Region chairmanship, discussed the importance of freight for the Africa region within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), offering an vital opportunity to stimulate economic growth and sustainable development across the continent. The company also shared its successful experience in operating corridors for phosphate and automotive traffic, showing how they handle shared infrastructure between passenger and freight services.

The Uganda Railways Corporation presented their role in connecting Uganda to global trade through the Northern and Central Corridors, linking to ports in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

The webinar concluded with discussions about the challenges of harmonising technical and legal standards across borders, with participants noting the importance of data collection and stable legal frameworks for successful rail freight development.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

UIC participates in the 5th edition of the Africa Training Session on Rolling Stock Maintenance in Rabat

2026-04-13T13:55:27Z

On 3 April 2026, Henri Tsukahara, UIC Rolling Stock and Labelling Expert, participated in the 5th edition of the Africa Training Session on Rolling Stock Maintenance in Rabat, Morocco.

He introduced UIC's role and presented key principles of railway rolling stock maintenance, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, availability, and lifecycle cost optimisation.

The training session focused on maintenance levels, planning cycles, preventive and predictive maintenance approaches, and the importance of feedback from operations. It also covered the European Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) regulatory framework and highlighted future trends such as digital diagnostics, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and data-driven maintenance in a context of increasing competition and outsourcing.

The UIC Africa training sessions are organised as part of a regular annual programme focusing on safety, infrastructure, and rolling stock.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact

ECOV4R's final publication: The first global framework for ecosystem services assessments in railway infrastructure projects

2026-04-13T12:32:30Z

The Ecosystem Valuation for Railways (ECOV4R) Project has successfully come to a close and published the ECOV4R Framework alongside two pilot assessments, marking a milestone for integrating ecosystem services into railway infrastructure planning, design, and management.

The ECOV4R Framework provides a structured and reproducible methodology to assess and, where feasible, monetise the positive and negative impacts of railway infrastructure on ecosystem services, supporting decision-making, business cases, and sustainability reporting.
Click here to download the ECOV4R Framework

The methodology was tested through two pilot applications:

A prospective assessment on the Cotswold Line (UK) exploring natural flood management and railway resilience
Click here to download the UK ECOV4R Pilot Assessment – Network Rail

A retrospective assessment on a section of the Palencia–León high-speed line (Spain) evaluating ecosystem service benefits from mitigation measures
Click here to download the Spain ECOV4R Pilot Assessment – ADIF

The closing webinar “Railway Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services” presented the results of three years of collaborative work, with contributions from experts from AtkinsRéalis, eftec, Network Rail, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the Spanish railway infrastructure manager ADIF, and UIC. The session highlighted how ecosystem service valuation can support resilient, evidence-based, and nature-positive railway infrastructure.

The webinar recordings are now available on the ECOV4R project page, together with the published reports and supporting material.

UIC would like to thank all ECOV4R project members for their vital contributions to the development of the Framework and pilot applications.

Building on these results, the Sustainable Land Use Sector will continue this work under the ACORN initiative with more than 20 UIC members worldwide to further make progress on ecosystem services, biodiversity indicators, and sustainable land management across railways.

For further information, please contact us here: https://uic.org/about/contact