A Grand Convergence in Beijing

From July 8 to 11, 2025, the global railway community turned its eyes to Beijing, where the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail was hosted at the China National Convention Centre. Rail leaders, engineers, policymakers, and researchers from over 60 countries convened for four days to delve into the theme of "High-Speed Rail: Innovation and Development for a Better Life."

Co-hosted by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and China State Railway Group (CR), the event marked one of the largest international forums in the transport world this year. Over 2,000 participants and hundreds of exhibitors attended, reaffirming the position of high-speed rail (HSR) not just as a mode of transport but as a backbone of future sustainable development.

Knowledge, Technology, and Vision

The Congress offered a feast of insight. Through two roundtables and 30 technical sessions, more than 200 senior executives and thought leaders dissected the latest high-speed rail technology, system design, safety management, financing models, and green mobility. Authors from 27 countries submitted over 700 papers, demonstrating the sector's academic and operational momentum.

Running in tandem was the expansive "Modern Railways 2025" exhibition. Held in the China International Exhibition Centre, it attracted over 70,000 visitors and featured 521 exhibitors from 14 countries. China's CR showcased 30 cutting-edge trains and technologies, including the CR450 Fuxing EMU, capable of attaining test speeds up to 450 km/h, and new maglev concepts. Also displayed were intelligent inspection drones, innovative signalling systems, and VR-based station operation models.

Global Partnerships on Track

While technology and ideas dominated the stage, the Congress also served as a diplomatic platform. Cooperation agreements were signed between China Railway and railway agencies from France, Spain, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Laos, Malaysia, and others. The significance of these agreements goes beyond bilateral cooperation; they mark the beginning of cross-border infrastructure collaboration and operational harmony that could reshape regional connectivity across Asia, Europe, and beyond.

UIC's General Assembly, held just a day before the Congress, set the tone. Rail CEOs and government leaders worldwide committed to advancing global railway standards, sharing technologies, and addressing challenges such as climate adaptation, data interoperability, and cybersecurity through collective action.

China's Defining Role

China didn't just host the Congress; it demonstrated what is possible when a nation places rail at the heart of its mobility and development agenda. With over 48,000 kilometres of high-speed rail, more than 70% of the global total, China now connects nearly every major urban centre with HSR, serving 97% of cities with populations exceeding 500,000.

Its ambitions are still expanding. The CR450 initiative, which aims to push the commercial ceiling of HSR to 400 km/h, is progressing steadily. Meanwhile, China's Belt and Road HSR exports, such as the China-Laos line and the Jakarta-Bandung HSR in Indonesia, highlight the country's growing influence in infrastructure diplomacy.

Notably, China now leads in all 13 system-level international standards recognised by the UIC, from rolling stock and track systems to passenger services and operations. This dominance in implementation and standard-setting positions China as the primary benchmark for future HSR development worldwide.

A Look Ahead

A shared vision emerged from the 12th UIC World Congress: high-speed rail as a solution to urban congestion, climate change, and fragmented regional mobility. UIC Chair Dr. Alan Beroud spoke of rail's power to connect cities and reimagine urban planning, logistics, and the digital economy. With the rise of AI-powered maintenance, predictive analytics, multimodal hubs, and decarbonised energy sources, the next decade of rail may look drastically different, but it is undoubtedly smarter.

The Congress closed with a renewed call for unity. As high-speed rail expands into Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, its future depends on collaboration. That means sharing data, aligning safety standards, investing in capacity-building through bodies like the UIC Rail Academy, and ensuring that innovation serves people first.

In Beijing, the tracks for that future have been laid.