The call for speakers for Sustainability Action Week 2027 has been launched, and members and partners are invited to contribute to this key international railway event.
UIC is also pleased to announce that this edition of Sustainability Action Week will be hosted by the University of Birmingham on 19-22 April 2027. The event will gather participants from across the UIC network and the wider community for a week of discussion, knowledge sharing, and working together on the topic of sustainability in rail.
For the first time, the event will not be held in Paris, as the UIC event space is being renovated in early 2027. Nevertheless, the University of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) is the perfect venue for the event, as the centre has been transforming the rail industry for over 50 years, with their blending of academic excellence with real-world innovation through industry collaboration. Their focus is on whole-systems thinking across rail and in the wider transport context. BCRRE is also academic lead for the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) helping to shape the future of railways globally.
Sustainability Action Week is one of the flagship activities of UIC’s Sustainability Platform, which supports cooperation among members on strategic and technical aspects. The platform provides a framework for sharing expertise, highlighting good practice and encouraging practical cooperation across the international railway community. Through this work, UIC is continuing to support its members in strengthening the rail’s contribution to more sustainable mobility systems.
The launch of the call for speakers marks the start of preparations for the 2027 edition and offers members the opportunity to help shape the programme through presentations, case studies, and interactive discussions. Contributions from the entire sector are encouraged in order to reflect the wide range of expertise needed to advance rail sustainability at both strategic and operational level.
Alongside this, UIC has also released a provisional agenda for the event. The programme is structured around daily strategic themes that reflect current priorities for the sector, including communication, finance, social value, and environmental management. These themes underline the importance of integrating sustainability into governance, investment, engagement, and day-to-day decision-making.
The provisional agenda includes a strong technical component, with dedicated sessions on biodiversity, noise and vibration, air quality, circular economy, decarbonisation, and gender equality. Together, these sessions are intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the issues shaping sustainability action across the railway sector today.
The 2027 edition builds on the progress made in previous years. The 2023 and 2025 editions highlighted the importance of international knowledge sharing and showcased practical initiatives developed by UIC members in response to shared sustainability challenges.
By combining leadership themes with focused technical exchanges, Sustainability Action Week 2027 will offer members and partners an important opportunity to share their experiences, explore solutions, and contribute to the continued development of sustainable rail transport.
Put forward your topic here now
Interested in supporting and partnering with us for the event? Find out more here
Registration will open soon, so please watch this space.
