On 11 and 12 June 2026, Trenitalia welcomed the UIC high-speed rail community for a new series of key meetings, hosted at their headquarters in Rome. The programme brought together experts, researchers, and members from across the high-speed sector for three different sessions: the High-Speed IRS Working Group and the Alliance of Universities for High-Speed Rail (AUHSR) Plenary on 11 June, followed by the ICHSC Plenary Session on 12 June.
Given Italy’s central place in international high-speed rail, Trenitalia was therefore a fitting host for the occasion, and built on the momentum from the previous meeting in Paris. The sessions focused on strengthening research partnerships, advancing standardisation work, and setting priorities for the community.
ICHSC Plenary Session
The ICHSC Plenary was chaired by Huo Baoshi, China Railway, with Federica Santini (Trenitalia), Chair of the UIC Global Passenger Forum, opening the session with a welcome address on behalf of the host organisation.
One of the session’s highlights was the announcement that the 7th edition of the UIC High-Speed Atlas 2025 will be published shortly.
Three keynote presentations provided different perspectives on how the sector is evolving:
- Mauro Capurso, Trenitalia, examined renewed interest in night trains and their relationship with high-speed services in Italy.
- Jan Ilík, Czech Railways (CD), outlined the trajectory of high-speed development in the Czech Republic and the wider region.
- Stefano Scarci, Ernst & Young (EY), took stock of where high-speed rail stands today in relation to emerging mobility technologies.
Additionally, members reviewed the status of the ongoing UIC high-speed rail research projects: Liber-Afford, OptSpeed, High-Speed Transport Comparison (HSTC), and High-Speed Financial Models for Infrastructures (HS-FMI). While the HS-FMI has been published, the remaining projects are also approaching completion. The session also touched on the UIC HSR Training Programme, which is currently under development.
AUHSR Plenary Session
The AUHSR Plenary, chaired by Prof Li Dewei, Beijing Jiaotong University, brought together universities and industry partners to review the alliance’s growing activity.
The session featured three keynote contributions: Prof Dewei shared insights on HSR loyalty and ticketing programmes; Stefano Scarci (EY) revisited the innovation landscape across high-speed rail, maglev and hyperloop; and Prof. Andrew R. Goetz, University of Denver, explored the potential for closer Air+HSR intermodal integration.
The session also highlighted the upcoming 6th International Symposium on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts, scheduled for 8-9 September 2026 at the University of Naples Federico II (UNINA).
High-Speed IRS Working Group Meeting
Jointly chaired by Eduardo Romo, Foundation Caminos de Hierro (FCH), and Huo Baoshi, China Railway, the IRS Working Group meeting marked an important milestone with the conclusion of the technical review of IRS 60673: Implementation of High-Speed Railway (Design Phase).
The session also laid the groundwork for the upcoming revision of IRS 60662: Maintenance of High-Speed Lines, with members agreeing on the scope and next steps.
Technical visit: Trenitalia maintenance facility
The two days concluded with a technical visit to Trenitalia’s high-speed train maintenance facility. Participants were given an inside look at depot operations, including a presentation of ARGO, Trenitalia’s advanced diagnostic and monitoring technology for high-speed rolling stock.
The visit offered a rare opportunity to see first-hand the systems behind Italy’s high-speed rail network, and was widely appreciated as a fitting close to two days of intensive discussions.
Looking ahead
The Rome meetings wrapped up with a strong sense of momentum and a clear set of commitments across all three working groups. Michele Gesualdi and Bertrand Minary brought the two days to a close by thanking Trenitalia and the participants for their attendance and engagement, and by looking ahead to the continued work of the global high-speed rail community.
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