Over 160 people from 13 countries in Asia and Europe had the opportunity to address the issues of rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance equipment for high speed rail systems, as well as future challenges, during the 2nd UIC High Speed Interaction Workshop.

The workshop, held from 18 – 20 April in Taipei, and co-organised by UIC and THRSC, gave the floor to over 30 speakers from countries with the world’s leading high speed rail operators. The discussions were inaugurated by Dr Ou Chin-Der, Chairman of THRSC, under the patronage of the Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Mao Chi-Kuo, with a detailed report on the dreadful events of 2011 given by Mr Yoshio Ishida, Chairman of UIC.

The fast-paced discussions – opened and concluded by UIC Director-General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux – proved to be enriching due to the broad geographical distribution of participants as well as the different points of view expressed by the operators and maintainers and the high number of railway manufacturers and suppliers partnered with the event.

This event has clearly showed itself to be an essential introduction to the World Congress on High Speed scheduled to take place in Philadelphia in July this year, where the conclusions will be reported and where the discussions begun in Taipei can be continued.