Call for abstracts
Launch Conference of the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD)
18th edition – UIC HQ, Paris, June 9, 2026
According to the UIC safety database report 2025, over 90% of all fatalities on rail infrastructure involve third parties (mainly trespassers and level crossing users).
Since June 2009 UIC, the international union of railways, with the support of the railway community around the world has spearheaded the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), a worldwide initiative to improve awareness of level crossing safety.
About 50 countries usually take part in the ILCAD annual campaign. Each year, we usually organise a launch event at which good practices and projects to improve safety and reduce the accident toll are shared.
- For the past four years, ILCAD and TRESPAD have been launched on consecutive days with linked conferences.
- For the first time, ever, UIC, the worldwide organisation representing the railways will be hosting the ILCAD launch conference (in person, in English and French, no hybrid version).
- This conference attracts railway industry representatives, road authorities, academics, and many others from around the world who are working to raise awareness about the dangers surrounding level crossings.
- An exhibition will run in parallel with the conferences, enabling industries to showcase their innovations and technologies to improve safety at level crossings and around railway tracks.
- The events will be followed by technical visits organised with the support of SNCF Réseau on 11 June 2026 (detailed programme will be confirmed and published at a later date).
ILCAD launch conference key areas are:
- Engineering – What technologies could help people make good decisions, raise awareness and ultimately prevent accidents at level crossings?
- Enforcement – partnerships involving railways, local authorities and police forces to encourage responsible, safe behaviour.
- Awareness, Education, Community outreach – What are the best means of helping people understand the safety risks at crossings?
The call for abstracts is open
We would be delighted to receive proposals for presentations providing insights into the cause of level crossing collisions, approaches to prevent and manage such events and the impact of such collisions.
We are particularly interested in presentations focused on risk assessment, use of new technologies (AI + connected cameras), sensors, obstacle detectors, apps, improvement of signage through applied cognitive science, safety projects in cooperation with other organisations, education and awareness, community outreach, return of experience from field staff (drivers, station staff, emergency services, etc.), prevention associations, charity organisations, and finally, enforcement measures.
For more information
- on past ILCAD events: ILCAD 2025 in York, GB visit ILCAD website
- on the UIC working group on level crossing safety GLCN
Contact: email
To submit an abstract to the ILCAD 2026 Conference with a deadline fixed to 2nd March 2026 please fill in the following form