The final conference of the UIC Hydrogen RISKS project took place on 26 May 2026, hosted by the Spanish Railway Infrastructure Manager (ADIF) in its Railway Technology Centre (CTF) in Málaga, Spain, bringing together railway experts and stakeholders to discuss the safe deployment of hydrogen technologies in the rail sector.
The event showcased the experience and technical knowledge gained by the project partners in this emerging field, with particularly interesting contributions coming from the UIC members ADIF, Italian Railway Network (RFI), and French National Railways (SNCF). The conference also provided an opportunity to reflect on the project’s main outcomes and the next steps for introducing hydrogen-powered systems in railway environments.
The day before the conference, project members were invited by the Spanish National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), to visit its facilities in Puertollano. During the visit, participants were able have a first-hand look at part of a hydrogen-train prototype, giving a practical insight into the technology and challenges associated with this energy solution.
As partners in the Hydrogen RISKS project, the Italian operator Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) were invited to contribute to the conference through a presentation and by moderating a discussion session.
A particularly notable feature of the event was the participation of a Korean delegation, including a presentation from the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) and the attendance of several colleagues from the Korean Railways (Korail), underlining the growing international interest in hydrogen applications for rail.
The conference was attended by around 45 participants in person (almost sold out!), with a further 20 people joining online.
One of the key outcomes of the project is a UIC publication of a methodology for developing a risk assessment and analysis method for hydrogen-based energy systems in railways. The document, entitled UIC Hydrogen Risks – Guidelines for the Safe Introduction of Hydrogen Technologies in Railways, is publicly available here:
https://shop.uic.org/en/other-reports/15099-uic-hydrogen-risks-guidelines-for-the-safe-introduction-of-hydrogen-technologies-in-railways.html
