Operations encompasses all of the processes and responsibilities required to operate a train with passengers or freight, from service design to feedback. It requires a multidisciplinary team of the members’ experts who work with all RSF Sectors and other UIC departments and manage the interfaces between the eight railway subsystems (infrastructure, energy, trackside control-command and signalling, onboard control-command and signalling, rolling stock, operations and traffic management, maintenance and telematics applications for passenger and freight services).
Explore→The Asset Management (AM) Sector issues useful guidelines and the exchanges of best practices on behalf of infrastructure managers (IMs).
Explore→The Energy Sector projects focus on improving energy supply and reducing consumption and energy costs.
Explore→This Sector gathers best practices for track and structures, promotes a greater degree of automation and portability in work and inspections and uses innovative methods (laser, radar, cameras, drones, onboard equipment on commercial or specialised railway vehicles), with a focus on design and asset maintenance, to increase safety, availability, punctuality, and cost efficiency and reduce train service disruptions.
Explore→The TTI Sector represents the intersection of rolling stock and infrastructure. Its main purpose is to study the interaction and interfaces between these technical subsystems, taking a system-based approach. Its activities are aimed at optimising the operational, economic and environmental efficiency of the railway system, ensuring its safety and improving interoperability.
Explore→The eight Sector Expert Teams (SETs) within the Rolling Stock Sector cover passenger related items, freight-related items, running gear, braking, data communication and driver’s cabs, traction expertise, diesel expertise and rolling stock maintenance, as well as engineering solution development (TrainDy).
Explore→The Rail System Forum (RSF) is a global working body responsible for all matters relating to the railway system, i.e. operations, control-command systems and telecom, asset management, railway digital modelling, the infrastructure subsystem, interfaces and interactions between the infrastructure subsystem and rolling stock, rolling stock, energy, and other railway business-related topics. The RSF is responsible for introducing appropriate measures aimed at enabling efficient international cooperation in railway system activities. The main aims of the RSF are to:Provide a three-year strategic vision and a multi- annual work programme and financial framework, for its activities;Approve UIC’s technical documents relating to the RSF’s area of work;Identify topics of common interest and activities to be implemented in order to provide more effective solutions and added value for UIC members.The RSF’s strategic objectives were updated on 25 April 2024. They support UIC’s “Vision 2023”. This is why the RSF integrates, in a systemic approach, legacy and major technical breakthroughs through its eight multiannual Sector work programmes, based on capacity, quality of service and continuous improvement of railway services, innovation, standardisation, and training.Consequently, the RSF focuses on:Capacity: traffic control centres and crisis management, and automation;Quality of service and continuous improvement of railway services: operations, safety, predictive maintenance and reduction of railway noise;Innovation: FRMCS specifications, reduction of energy consumption and emissions, lighter trains, resilience of railway infrastructure and rolling stock to climate change, railway digital modelling, operational rules adapted to market uptake, dissemination, benchmarking, and participation in Europe’s Rail (System Pillar and Innovation Pillar);Standardisation: establishment and implementation of the UIC strategy, and securing UIC’s role as the global reference for operational publications: IRS, Guidelines, Leaflets, etc.Training: development of a comprehensive and global training programme.As well as the activities of its eight Sectors (see pages 14 to 18), the RSF is responsible for the following cross-functional activities:Monitoring from a system point of view the TSI revision process;Drafting and revising around 70% of the UIC IRSs.In addition, the Rail System Department manages two special groups for innovation and research:The European-level Research and Innovation Coordination Group (RICG);The global-level International Railway Research Board (IRRB) and Regional Competence Hubs (RCH).
Explore→Creating innovative and sustainable technical solutions for the railway business, aimed at increasing its competitiveness as compared to other modes of transport, while taking into account not only single domains, but the Railway System as a whole.
The Railway System Forum (RSF) is a global working body in charge of all issues relating to the railway system, i.e. operations, control-command systems and telecoms, asset management, railway digital modelling, the infrastructure subsystem, interfaces and interaction between the infrastructure subsystem and rolling stock, rolling stock, energy, and other issues relating to railway business.
The RSF is responsible for organising appropriate measures aimed at enabling efficient international cooperation in railway system activities.
The main aims of the RSF are to:
The RSF’s strategic objectives were approved during its plenary session held on 22 October 2020 and align with UIC’s “Technical Solutions for the Operational Railway” document.
In addition to the activities of each Sector (see pages 14 to 18), the RSF is responsible for the following crossfunctional activities:
In addition, the Railway System Department manages two special groups for innovation and research: the Research and Innovation Coordination Group (RICG) at European level and the International Railway Research Board (IRRB) at global level.
