The fourth edition of the UIC Excellence in Railway Publications Awards took place on 15 October 2024 at the UIC Paris headquarters.
There were more than 80 people present in-person and online to celebrate the documents which were given awards, and which were produced by experts from all four corners of the world.
Christian Chavanel, Rail System Director in charge of Specification and Standardisation, opened the ceremony with a message from General Director François Davenne, stressing the importance of celebrating the advancements and progress made by UIC’s community of experts.
UIC brings together more than 2000 experts worldwide, who each year produce publications that are not only of a high quality but that also move the railways towards improved operations, higher maintainability and performance, greater safety, sustainability, connectivity and openness to other modes of transport.
Adeline Bouvresse, Chief Standardisation Officer, thanked all the applicants for their valuable contributions and work in producing high-quality documents.
This year, four International Railways Solutions (IRSs) and three guidelines were given awards in the four categories: Business Oriented, Innovative with Value Added, Proficiently Developed, and Interfaces with External Organisations.
Asako Togari, UIC Standardisation Platform Chair, and Laurent Schmitt, UIC Standardisation Platform Deputy Chair, had the pleasure of announcing the winning entries, introducing the working group leaders or representatives, and awarding them their prizes according to the categories below:
Business oriented:
✔ IRS 60660: Measures to ensure the technical compatibility of high-speed trains
Baoshi Huo, China Academy of Railways Sciences (CARS)
✔ Guideline: Optimised Rail Pad Performance for Noise Reduction: Outcomes and Recommendations
Jakob Oertli, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)
Proficiency developed:
✔ IRS 70701: Way & Works/Track & Structure/Polymeric composite sleepers – Recommendations for use
Rodolphe Potvin, National French Railways (SNCF)
Innovative with value added:
✔ Guideline: A Value Framework for Railways
Julia Brandt, Trafikverket
✔ Guideline: A framework for Whole System Decision Making
Andy Kirwan, Network Rail
Interfaces with external organisations:
✔ IRS 50596-6: Conditions for coding intermodal loading units, combined transport lines and wagons
Kristof Van Londersele, Infrabel
✔ IRS 50502-1: Exceptional consignments - UIC profile system
Sandra Balting, Deutsche Bahn
To conclude the event, Bouvresse congratulated the winners, the participants, and everyone who made the event possible thanks to their involvement and organisation.
All of the documents presented at the awards can be found in the online shop at UIC Railway Publications.
