On 22 January 2026, the webinar “Artificial Intelligence in the Railway Sector: Bridging innovation between China and Europe” brought together over 130 participants to analyse the transformative impact of AI on the railway system. The workshop, co-organised by Eurnex, UIC, and Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU), provided an opportunity for high-level information sharing on research and industrial application strategies.
Session 1: China’s large-scale innovation
The Chinese colleagues focused on the rapid integration of artificial intelligence-based solutions and applying them as part of the development of intelligent infrastructure:
- Intelligent platforms: Dr Ping Li, China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS), detailed the “railway brain” initiative, which supports 350 km/h autonomous driving, intelligent construction, and operations.
- Maintenance and robotics: Prof Guoqing Jing, BJTU, emphasised a shifting focus from construction to maintenance, introducing concepts for robotic track inspection and “smart sleepers” with integrated sensors to mitigate a shrinking labour force.
- Data complexity: Prof Liping Jing, BJTU, discussed the challenges of processing vast amounts of textual and video data, highlighting use cases like intrusion detection and Large Language Model (LLM) instruments for quality control.
Session 2: European trust and regulation
European presentations focused on the transition from automation to autonomy within the continent's stringent regulatory environment:
- Trustworthy AI: Prof. Francesco Flammini, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), and Dr Kenza Harkouken Saiah, Alstom, outlined the necessity of “explainable” AI, particularly for safety-critical functions like signal recognition and level-crossing monitoring.
- Efficiency and sustainability: Alstom demonstrated how AI optimises energy consumption and predictive maintenance for smart fleet management.
- Standardisation: Dr Peter Söderholm, Trafikverket, argued that while technology is developing rapidly, regulations are lagging behind. He proposed using AI itself to manage complex regulatory frameworks and risk analysis.
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Session 3: Panel discussion on AI
The third session featured an in-depth panel discussion jointly moderated by Artur Fojud, UIC, and Gianlucca Coloma, Imotion Analytics. The session went beyond technical presentations to address the socio-technical hurdles of implementing AI globally.
Fojud specifically steered the dialogue toward the development of an AI governance framework. He emphasised that for the railway sector to adopt innovative solutions responsibly, there must be clear requirements for how AI introduces new capabilities. Fojud drew attention to the “conditions for responsible adoption”, ensuring that AI remains a supporting tool rather than an unchecked replacement for human expertise. During the discussion, three important issues were also addressed:
1. Data quality vs volume: The experts reached a consensus that high-quality, accurately labelled data is far more useful than sheer volume, especially when training systems for rare, catastrophic “edge case” events.
2. The human-AI division: The panel proposed a “human-on-the-loop” model. In this symbiotic relationship, AI handles high-frequency data processing and preliminary execution, while human operators retain oversight for strategic decisions and exceptional scenarios.
3. Global standardisation: The discussion addressed the difficulties involved in international data sharing. While Europe’s strict regulations might appear to slow innovation compared to other regions, the panel noted they ensure higher safety benchmarks.
Conclusion and next steps
The event concluded with a clear consensus: the path to full AI integration requires meticulous planning, cross-sector cooperation, and an unwavering commitment to safety. Participants therefore proposed the creation of a dedicated working group to bridge the gap between scientific research and industrial application.
Future UIC R&I Unit initiatives :
- Continued dialogue: Eurnex and UIC announced that further webinars in this format are planned for the near future (2026).
- Research programme: This activity is linked to the 2026-2028 work programme of the International Railway Research Board’s (IRRB) Academic Board for Innovation.
- Call for participation: UIC members and external partners (universities, research centres, SMEs, and start-ups) are invited to join the IRRB by contacting irrb@uic.org.
A recording of the webinar will shortly be made available to the public.