UIC World Congress on Rail Training (WCRT) 2025: A global vision for railway skills, innovation and inclusion

From 9 to 11 April 2025, the 7th UIC World Congress on Rail Training (WCRT) took place in Chengdu, China. Jointly organised by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), the congress brought together railway professionals, academics, and talented young people from over 30 countries to share best practices and shape the future of railway training, talent, and development.

Opening ceremony: A shared commitment to human capital

Moderated by Ling Xin, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at SWJTU, the opening session set the tone for a dynamic and inclusive event. François Davenne, UIC Director General, also highlighted the central role of training in driving transformation, with the words “From digitalisation to decarbonisation, the skills needed to operate, maintain, and innovate are evolving fast. WCRT is where we come together to equip professionals for the challenges ahead.”

Moreover, Cong Li, from the China Railway Group, emphasised China’s strong national engagement and investment in a “multi-dimensional talent training system,” with over 30,000 front-line staff trained annually in partnership with universities. Yanping Cui, National Railway Administration, called for a “connectivity of people” at the heart of railway cooperation.

Finally, Professor Zhongrong Zhou, Vice President of SWJTU, celebrated the university’s legacy in railway education and its bridge between academic research and operational excellence.

TEDP and the power of community

Meryem Belhaj-Clot, UIC Deputy HR Director and Head of HR Development, introduced the Talent & Expertise Development Platform (TEDP) as a living ecosystem, stating that TEDP is more than a platform — it is a community. She also invited the participants to take part in its working groups, to challenge perspectives, and jointly develop solutions.

Miguel Faro Viana, Chair of TEDP, added “By investing in people, we invest in the long-term resilience and sustainability of rail.”

WCRT Hackathon: Celebrating the next generation of innovators

One of the congress’s highlights was the Hackathon Awards, celebrating young professionals solving real-world railway challenges with creativity and technical skills.

Winning projects included:

1st Prize (Asia-Pacific): NextGen Platform Accessibility System
2nd Prize (tie): Autonomous Travel Assistance System (Africa) and Proactive Catenary Maintenance via Arc Detection (Asia-Pacific)
3rd Prize (Middle East): Smart Comfort Suspension Using AI (SCS-AI)

Awards were presented by Xin, SWJTU, Vito Pagliarisi, Italian State Railways (FS), and Faro Viana, Railway Infrastructure Manager of Portugal (IP), with Belhaj-Clot underpinning that the Hackathon embodies action, creativity, and collaboration, and that it shows the potential of the next generation.

Michele Gesualdi, UIC Passenger Adviser, then invited the participants to the next UIC High-Speed Congress, announcing that one Hackathon team would present there — bridging generations, innovation, and strategy.

Key themes and global expertise: A recap of the sessions

Over three days, the programme featured 12 themed sessions and parallel tracks on:

International cooperation: SWJTU, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, German Railways (DB) Rail Academy, DB InfraGO, and ProRail presented cross-border training initiatives, international partnerships, and capacity-building programmes.
Innovation, learning technologies & AI: The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI), DB InfraGO, Rail Training International, and Alstom showcased the use of virtual reality, AI tools, serious games, and immersive 3D technologies to enhance rail training.
Diversity and talent development: The Polish State Railways (PKP), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), FS, and ProRail highlighted strategies for inclusion, leadership development, global talent management, and European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) specific programmes.
Training for resilience and sustainability: DB, AGV MOVE, FS, and Bulgarian representatives focused on simulations, mentoring, and EU-level collaboration to foster sustainable skills and workforce adaptability.
Train-the-trainer and skills transfer: FS, the Italian Railway Network (RFI), and Alstom addressed trainer preparedness, inclusive education, leadership development, and game-based learning methods.
Leadership and engagement: Trenitalia France and Shanghai Keolis explored cultural transformation, data-driven engagement strategies, and leadership practices in rail operations.
Health, safety and risk management: The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and French National Railways (SNCF) discussed safety training frameworks and the integration of human and organisational factors into safety-critical training programmes.

Technical visits showcasing railway innovation

The participants visited Chengdu East Railway Station, and SWJTU’s State Key Laboratory, a dynamic simulation platform for Maglev systems, as well as the staff training base of China Railway Chengdu Group, to observe the latest developments in railway infrastructure, research, and professional training first-hand.

These visits offered direct insight into the technological excellence of Chinese railway institutions.

Closing reflections: TEDP beyond 2025

To close the event, Belhaj-Clot reaffirmed TEDP’s strategic mission to support innovation and community building, with Faro Viana presenting the “Beyond 2025” vision, to: