On 7 July 2025, the Worldwide Union of Railways (UIC) convened its 106th Basic Meeting in Beijing, hosted by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (CR). Held on the eve of the twelfth UIC World Congress on Excessive-Velocity Rail, the meeting not solely served as a key second for governance discussions and strategic reflection but additionally as a name to collective motion.
UIC Chair Dr. Alan Beroud opened the meeting by emphasizing that rail stands at a crossroads, going through each unprecedented challenges and offered with historic alternatives to rework international mobility. He underscored that the way forward for rail is dependent upon the sector’s collective capacity to construct bridges – not solely throughout borders, but additionally between modes of transport, technical disciplines, and totally different stakeholders. Collaboration and innovation are now not elective: they’re important to grab these alternatives.
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The meeting reaffirmed that attaining a large-scale modal shift in the direction of rail requires seamless integration with different modes of transport. Dr. Beroud emphasised that creating easy interfaces and driving widespread standardization are vital drivers for lowering prices and accelerating implementation worldwide. Given the complexity of this job, it requires energetic engagement from all UIC members and their networks, significantly people who affect infrastructure investments and transportation insurance policies.
Recognising the rising significance of regional initiatives, the meeting highlighted UIC’s transformation into a world platform, one which embraces revolutionary concepts from all continents. By leveraging regional hubs, bilateral initiatives, and dynamic partnerships, the organisation is strengthening its capability to deal with various native wants whereas fostering sensible international cooperation.
Mid-year overview and rising international impression
UIC Director Basic François Davenne offered an in depth mid-year report, highlighting UIC’s increasing challenge portfolio, strengthened partnerships, and elevated international visibility. He acknowledged that UIC has strengthened its function as each a pioneer and operational platform due to sturdy information and technical experience.
Venture exercise has accelerated significantly over latest years, supported by new instruments that enhance monetary transparency, simplify member participation, and improve challenge administration effectivity. These developments have elevated member engagement and worth creation throughout the community.
UIC continues to play a key function within the European Union’s Rail Joint Enterprise (EU-Rail), contributing to system structure, operational guidelines, 5G growth, and the innovation roadmap. The Future Railway Cellular Communication System (FRMCS) framework has been established because the next-generation radio communication commonplace, with the MORANE 2 programme underway to validate deployment choices. A contingency plan coordinated with the European Union Company for Railways (ERA) goals to ship a model 3 pre-test specification by the tip of 2026.
As well as, the Open Gross sales and Distribution Mannequin (OSDM) has been formally recognised inside the European regulatory framework. The OpenRail Basis now provides a impartial, open-source atmosphere to speed up software program innovation.
UIC has additionally finalised monitoring methods for technical doc utilization and mapped standardisation migration pathways, additional consolidating its place as a trusted international standard-setting physique.
Strategic priorities for 2026–2028
To anchor UIC growth in a broad session course of, the six strategic pillars for the upcoming UIC Work Programme 2026-2028 have been offered to the GA six months previous to their last adoption on the December 2025 session. These focus areas —digital transformation, system efficiency, sustainability, technical standardization, innovation, and international interoperability —shall be mentioned till then to make sure alignment and shared duty.
Furthermore, UIC is dedicated to lowering its reliance on membership charges by enhancing productiveness, providing a wider vary of providers, and inspiring participation in co-financed initiatives. Due to this fact, a brand new methodology shall be launched to evaluate a challenge’s worth from a member’s perspective, alongside the event of a marketing strategy to strengthen UIC’s function as a service supplier based mostly on its technical experience.
Strengthening cooperation with institutional stakeholders was additionally reaffirmed as very important for positively influencing international infrastructure funding and transport coverage.
Advocacy as a core mission
Advocacy has been firmly established as a central mission for UIC. Since early 2025, the newly created transversal Advocacy Unit has been actively concerned in key international processes, together with the UN local weather agenda, preparations for COP30, and multilateral infrastructure financing. Joint positions with companions such because the Worldwide Affiliation of Public Transport (UITP), advocate for elevated rail funding by local weather finance mechanisms.
This advocacy initiative goals to safe rail’s central function in public transport insurance policies, additionally extending to strategic domains resembling army mobility.
The narrative promotes a paradigm shift in the direction of a large-scale modal shift to rail and public transport, emphasizing the necessity to channel funding into rail infrastructure, cut back prices by standardization, and spotlight railways as leaders in innovation, significantly in high-speed rail, 5G, digital instruments, and resilience.
Operational roadmap and innovation
UIC reaffirmed its dedication to delivering interoperable options throughout the rail sector, specializing in key areas such because the European Rail Visitors Administration System (ERTMS), 5G deployment, digital automated coupling, multimodality, and cybersecurity.
Moreover, the UIC Rail Academy continues to develop its coaching portfolio to construct capability amongst members.
Regional initiatives are being strengthened by new cooperative fashions, together with bilateral initiatives with entities resembling Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and the Moroccan Nationwide Railways (ONCF). Efforts to reinforce regional hubs, technical help programmes, and member interfaces intention to enhance accessibility, transparency, and help worldwide.
Whereas Europe stays UIC’s historic base, the organisation’s energy lies in its openness and inclusivity, embracing innovation from all areas to make sure that the railways stay a cornerstone of sustainable mobility and a beacon of innovation and cooperation.
Institutional continuity and monetary outlook
The members permitted the 2024 accounts and confirmed a constructive monetary outlook for the rest of the 12 months. Stefano Pierini, Italian State Railways (FS) Group, was reappointed as Chair of the UIC Finance Platform for a brand new two-year time period, guaranteeing strategic continuity forward of the management transitions scheduled for December 2025.
Welcoming new members and looking out forward
The Basic Meeting welcomed 4 new members: the Devoted Freight Hall Company of India Restricted (DFCCIL), Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd from China, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Railways Authority from Saudi Arabia, and ALTO from Canada, operator of the Excessive Frequency Rail challenge. It additionally permitted the reinstatement of Libyan Railways as an energetic member.
The following UIC Basic Meeting will happen on 11 December 2025 in Poland, the place the 2026–2028 Work Programme and challenge portfolio shall be formally adopted, marking a decisive step for sustainable rail mobility worldwide.
