Congratulations to Mario Péloquin, MBA, ICD.D, President and CEO of VIA Rail Canada for being elected as Chair of the UIC North America Regional Assembly (NARA). Over the next two years, NARA will benefit from his expansive rail knowledge and strategic vision.
Péloquin thanked the group, saying “Rail plays a critical role in shaping sustainable mobility across North America, and NARA is a key platform for advancing collaboration and innovation in our industry. UIC’s support for NARA is invaluable and, together, we are all working to make our industry the best it can be. I am honoured to be considered for this leadership position and look forward to working with my colleagues to build on the great progress made under Barbara Klein Barr’s tenure.”
UIC would like to thank the outgoing NARA chair Barbara Klein Barr from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for her guidance over the last four years. We look forward to continuing to work with her. Throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, her steady and enthusiastic leadership was essential for maintaining the group’s momentum and growing its membership.
Then, during the NARA meeting, which was hosted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at its rail conference in San Francisco, California, the members discussed work on standards mapping and the new North America Safety and Ops Taskforce. Moreover, UIC Director General Francois Davenne presented the UIC Work Programme 2026–28. The regional assembly also welcomed a new member, the Toronto-Quebec City High-Speed Rail Network (ALTO), who also participated and detailed their planned high-speed rail project for Canada.
Alongside this, a knowledge sharing session shed light on FRA’s research on the safety of emerging propulsion technologies, UIC’s work against human trafficking, and the MxV Rail facilities in the city of Pueblo in Colorado, USA. Finally, members discussed their plan for the next meeting, which is to be held in Montréal from 10-12 September 2025. There, the main topics to be dealt with will include talent, skills, and training.
Representing UIC North America, Lucie Anderton and Laura Petersen participated in several of the APTA conference events in California, including the High-Speed Rail Seminar and the APTA Committee on High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail.
During the “Rail Keeping HS&IPR Momentum on Track” session, Anderton gave summary updates on the latest High-Speed Rail Atlas, as well as long-term trends in passenger rail worldwide. She emphasised that the sector is currently witnessing “a global shift to motorisation and a shrinking share of rail”, and that it must “keep making the case for rail as an investment in prospering economies and healthy communities”.
Meanwhile, at a well-attended event on “Assessing Risk, Developing Mitigation Strategies and Measuring Results to Enhance the Protection of Public Transit”, Petersen shared highlights and key findings from the UIC Security Platform’s work programme and activities.
