• Maglev Systems
• Battery and Hydrogen Trains
• Personal Rapid Transit
• Hyperloop
• Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Twin
• Internet of Trains
• Blockchain Technology

The list of special sessions is being assembled. Over the coming months the list of special sessions will gradually grow.

Participants may propose special sessions using the form here. Proposals should be emailed to Professor J. Pombo using send special session proposal. Please ensure that you attach your fully completed form.
The current list of special sessions includes:

• RWL-S1: Railway Bridges
  organised by:
  Prof. Rui Calçada, University of Porto, Portugal
  Prof. José Goicolea, Technical University of Madrid, Spain
  Prof. Anders Rønnquist, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
  Prof. Raid Karoumi, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden
  Prof. Pedro Museros Romero, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain
  Dr. Pedro Montenegro, University of Porto, Portugal
  Prof. Diogo Ribeiro, Polytecnic Institute of Porto, Portugal
  
  This special session aims to bring together the latest achievements, research and studies regarding the railway bridges, both in terms of design, monitoring and condition assessment. Theoretical, experimental and computational investigations (or a combination of these) are welcome. Expected papers will cover various aspects related with the dynamic and static behaviour of the railway bridges, including train-bridge interaction, structural health monitoring (SHM) applied to bridges, normative aspects related to railway bridges, load models, applications in high-speed railways, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques applied to damage detection in railway bridges, ballasted and non-ballasted systems, soil-structure interaction, reliability and train running safety under strong winds and/or earthquake actions, ride comfort, resonance effects, among others.
  
  
• RWL-S2: Wheel-Rail Contact Mechanics and Related Problems
  organised by:
  Dr. Zhen Yang, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
  Prof. Roger Lewis, Unviversity of Sheffield, United Kingdom
  Prof. Zili Li, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
  Dr. Kate Tomlinson, Unviversity of Sheffield, United Kingdom
  
  Wheel-rail contact is a complex and imperfect link between wheel and rail. The contact mechanics and dynamics govern the initiation and development of wheel-rail defects (rolling contact fatigue, wear, etc.) and greatly influence the generation of railway vibration and noise. This special session aims to enhance the understanding of wheel-rail interface and contact-induced problems. The session will cover, but not limited to, the following topics:
  • Contact mechanics and dynamics of wheel-rail systems
  • Modelling of the wheel-rail interface deterioration
  • Wheel-rail friction/adhesion measurement and control
  • Wheel-rail contact-induced vibration and noise
  • Condition monitoring and diagnostics in relation to wheel-rail contact
  • Wheel-rail contact related problems from service: case studies and possible solutions
  
  
• RWL-S3: Sustainable Railway Infrastructure: Smart Monitoring, Adaptive Lifecycle Strategies, Circularity, and Climate-Driven Engineering Solutions
  organised by:
  Dr. Araliya Mosleh, University of Porto, Portugal
  Prof. Diogo Ribeiro, Polytechnic of Porto - School of Engineering, Portugal
  Prof. Amir Garmabaki, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
  Prof. Alfredo Núñez Vicencio, TU Delft, Netherlands
  Dr. Miguel Rodriguez Plaza, ADIF, Spain
  Prof. Cecilia Vale, University of Porto, Portugal
  
  This Special Session focuses on innovative engineering solutions for sustainable railway infrastructure, inviting contributions on smart monitoring technologies, digital twins, and AI-based diagnostics to assess infrastructure behavior and degradation under diverse traffic conditions, including high-speed, freight, and conventional services.
  Emphasis is placed on adaptive lifecycle strategies and circularity to reduce environmental impact, extend infrastructure durability, and optimize maintenance planning, which directly support climate mitigation actions across different modes of transport.
  In addition, climate-driven design solutions addressing extreme environmental pressures such as heat, flooding, and soil instability, as well as climate adaptation actions, are also encouraged.
  By integrating sustainability with advanced monitoring and resilience-based design, the session aims to present next-generation railway infrastructure solutions for safe and efficient transport.
  
  
• RWL-S4: Latest Advancements in Railway Aerodynamics
  organised by:
  Dr. James Bell, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
  Prof. Guowei Yang, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy Sciences, China
  Prof. Gisella Tomasini, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
  Prof. Zhenxu Sun, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy Sciences, China
  Prof. Tiantian Wang, Hunan University, China
  Prof. Tian Li, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  
  In recent years, energy efficiency and legislative requirements for reducing carbon dioxide and other emissions have become a worldwide hot topic. Vehicle aerodynamics plays a significant role in saving energy for future requirements of a climate-friendly environment. Its main goals are reducing aerodynamic drag, aerodynamic noise, and other causes of aerodynamic instability at high speeds. The purpose of this session is to bring together experts from different disciplines to discuss the latest advancements, challenges and new techniques in the field of railway aerodynamics. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Vehicle aerodynamic effects,
  • Fluid/solid coupling problems related to high-speed trains,
  • Aerodynamic drag reduction,
  • Train aeroacoustics,
  • Crosswind,
  • Slipstream and pressure signature,
  • Flow control,
  • Thermal management,
  • Data-driven analytics and artificial intelligence.
  
  
• RWL-S5: Switches and Crossings
  organised by:
  Prof. Björn Pålsson, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
  Prof. Yann Bezin, University of Huddersfield, UK
  Prof. Roger Dixon, University of Birmingham, UK
  Dr. Valeri Markine, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
  Dr. Hugo Magalhães, IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  
  This session welcome contributions that advance knowledge, methods, and technology in the domain of switches and crossings (S&Cs, turnouts) design, maintenance and operation. A broad range of contributions are welcome – from the detailed technical to high-level network aspects. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Modelling and simulation of dynamic vehicle-S&C interaction
  • Measurements and experiments related to dynamic vehicle-S&C interaction and structural response
  • Advanced condition monitoring and prognostics
  • Design and optimisation
  • Maintenance prediction and AI applications
  • Reliability & safety
  
  
• RWL-S6: Vibration Analysis of Moving Load Problems – from Modelling to Railway Applications
  organised by:
  Prof. Piotr Koziol, Cracow University of Technology, Poland
  Prof. Zuzana Dimitrovová, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
  
  Dynamic analysis of beam–foundation structures under moving loads has attracted the research community for many years, starting even before the beginning of railway construction. Nowadays, extremely fast growth in computational capabilities encourages researchers to overlook analytical and semi-analytical solutions, despite their inherent advantages. These solutions, however, provide important insight into many physical phenomena that are essential for dynamic problems. They can yield highly precise results that help to understand system behaviour under various combinations of parameters representing realistic structures. The substantial simplifications required to solve analytical models lead to simplicity in analysis and interpretation. Closed-form analytical solutions have always been desirable because of their numerical efficiency and the physical insight they offer into the problem. Theoretical results based on such approaches reveal important features of the systems investigated and allow effective parametric analysis. This makes the prediction of dynamic characteristics of real structures easier to describe.
  This special session aims to bring together researchers who dedicate their investigations to the analysis of dynamic systems associated with railway structures. It covers a broad research area, ranging from simplified analytical models to complex and sophisticated applications, including analytical modelling, numerical simulations, and optimization problems. Interdisciplinary ideas addressing physical problems arising in railway engineering are welcome.
  The proposed special session is not limited to analytical approaches. All new solutions or problem formulations within the area of moving loads related to railway systems, especially those involving hybrid methods, are also welcome.
  
  
• RWL-S7: AI-Data Driven Predictive Assessment of Railway Infrastructure Degradation and Damage - Multi-Modal Inspection Data Fusion, Physics-Informed Modelling and Digital Twins
  organised by:
  Dr. Liangliang Cheng, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
  Dr. Shaoguang Li, RailTechnology, Germany
  Prof. Duo Liu, Dresden University of Technology, Germany
  Prof. Guoqing Jing, Beijing Jiaotong University, China
  
  This special session focuses on artificial intelligence and data driven methods for predictive assessment of railway infrastructure degradation and damage. It welcomes contributions on multi modal inspection and monitoring data including vision vibration, acoustics, ultrasonics, lidar, ground penetrating radar, thermography and in service operational data.
  Session topics include data fusion and feature learning anomaly detection remaining useful life and condition forecasting uncertainty quantification and explainable models for safety critical decisions. Key themes are physics informed modelling and hybrid approaches that combine mechanistic degradation models with machine learning supported by digital twins for assets such as track ballast, turnouts, bridges, tunnels and overhead systems. Case studies field deployment lessons benchmarking datasets and decision support for maintenance planning are encouraged.
  
  
• RWL-S8: Smart Technologies, Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence for Railway Asset Management
  organised by:
  Prof. Hongrui Wang, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
  Dr. Isidro Cardenas, Cranfield University, UK
  Prf. Babakalli Alkali, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
  
  This special session focuses on the use of smart technologies, digital twins, artificial intelligence, robotic and autonomous systems to support the lifecycle management of railway assets. The emphasis is on integrating monitoring, inspection, maintenance, failure and operational data with advanced modelling, autonomy, and AI techniques to improve the safety, reliability, resilience, and the overall performance of railway systems.
  Contributions are invited on intelligent asset management solutions and digital twin frameworks for railway infrastructure and rolling stock. It includes the integration of predictive maintenance and physics-based models with data-driven, robotics and autonomous systems and AI approaches for condition assessment, degradation prediction, maintenance optimisation and decision support. The session aims to highlight scalable, interpretable, and deployable approaches that effectively bridge state-of-the-art research with operational practice, enabling informed and robust cost-effective decision-making process for railway asset management.
  
  
• RWL-S9: Traction and Braking: Control, Safety and Energy Recovery
  organised by:
  Prof. Nicolò Zampieri, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  Prof. Jianyong Zuo, Tongji University, China
  Prof. Mehdi Ahmadian, Virginia Tech, USA
  Prof. Yu Pan, Tongji University, China
  Prof. Auteliano Santos Jr., University of Campinas, Brazil
  Prof. Jingxian Ding, Tongji University, China
  Prof. Nicola Zani, University of Brescia, Italy
  
  This special session aims to collect scientifically relevant contributions that can bring innovation to the field of traction and braking. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Study and development of railway control systems for traction and braking operations, including control logic for Wheel Slide Protection (WSP) and antiskid systems;
  • FMEA analyses of brake system components;
  • Study and development of energy recovery strategies in traction and braking;
  • Numerical and experimental analyses of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of brake discs, pads, shoes, and wheels;
  • Tribological analysis and characterization of braking components;
  • Analysis of brake-related emissions;
  • Research and development of innovative materials for brake pads and shoes;
  • AI for traction and braking.
  
  
• RWL-10: Pantograph-Catenary Systems and Interaction
  organised by:
  Prof. Alan Facchinetti, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
  Dr. Pedro Antunes, University of Huddersfield, UK
  Prof. Anders Rønnquist, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
  Prof. Manuel Tur Valiente, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain
  Prof. Zhigang Liu, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  Prof. Yang Song, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  Prof. Jorge Ambrósio, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  
  The pantograph–catenary interface remains a critical subsystem for safe, reliable, and efficient electric railway operations. As train speeds increase and electrified networks expand into more challenging environments, understanding and improving the dynamic interaction between the pantograph and the overhead line has never been more important. In parallel, the growing demand for cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable transportation systems places additional pressure on reliability, resilience, and overall performance of these assets. This Special Session aims at bringing together researchers, industry experts and practitioners to share the latest advancements, emerging challenges and future directions in pantograph–catenary research. Owing to the multidisciplinary nature of this field, this Special Session welcomes contributions across all relevant scientific, engineering and industrial domains. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Current Collection Quality and Operational Performance
  • Dynamic Analysis and Modelling
  • In-line, Test Bench, and Laboratory Testing
  • Measurement, Monitoring, and Diagnostic Technologies
  • Maintenance, Wear, and Life-Cycle Assessment
  • Environmental, Aerodynamic, and Noise-Related Challenges
  • Pantograph and Catenary Design Innovations
  • Operation in High-Speed and Conventional Networks
  • Cost-Effective and Efficient Electrification Strategies
  • Standardisation, Certification, and Approval Processes
  • Energy Efficiency and Power Quality
  • Innovative Technological Solutions
  • Emerging Technologies and Future Perspectives
  
  
• RWL-11: Axle Bearing Technologies and Monitoring Systems
  organised by:
  Dr. Cai Yi, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  Dr. Bingyan Chen, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  
  The axle bearings are one of the core components of rolling stock and they have a significant impact on the stability and safety of the train's operation. Advanced axle bearing technologies and monitoring systems contribute to the reliable operation of railway trains, prevent unexpected accidents, and reduce inspection and maintenance costs. This session welcomes contributions from the fields of axle bearing technologies and monitoring systems. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • The design and development of axle bearings
  • The condition monitoring of axle bearings
  • The fault detection and diagnosis of axle bearings
  • The monitoring systems of axle bearings and applications
  
  
• RWL-12: Electrical Smart Grids and Sustainable Energy Efficiency in the Railway Sector
  organised by:
  Prof. van Khang Huynh, University of Agder, Norway
  Dr. Dang Khoa Hoang, University of Huddersfield, UK
  Prof. Nigel Schofield, University of Huddersfield, UK
  
  The railway sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the urgent need for decarbonization, improved energy efficiency, and the integration of smart infrastructure. As rail networks worldwide pursue net-zero targets, innovations in electrical systems, energy management, and grid integration are becoming critical enablers of sustainable rail transport.
  This special session focuses on cutting-edge research and industrial applications addressing the electrical and energy challenges of modern railway systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Advanced traction power systems and substations
  • Regenerative braking and energy recovery technologies
  • Railway microgrids and energy storage integration
  • Smart grid architectures for electrified rail networks
  • Power quality, harmonics, and electromagnetic compatibility
  • Pantograph-catenary system optimization
  • Hydrogen and battery-hybrid propulsion systems
  • Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring of electrical assets
  • Vehicle-to-grid (V2X) integration and flexibility services for rail systems
  • Renewable energy integration within railway infrastructure
  • Energy-efficient train operation and eco-driving strategies
  • Digital twins and AI-driven monitoring, control, and energy management
  • Electrification strategies for legacy diesel lines
  We invite submissions from researchers, engineers, and industry professionals working on electrical system innovation, sustainable energy solutions, and smart grid technologies for rail transport. Both theoretical contributions and practical case studies are welcome, particularly those demonstrating measurable improvements in energy efficiency, system reliability, or environmental performance. The session aims to foster collaboration between academia and industry by facilitating knowledge exchange on emerging technologies and best practices for achieving sustainable, resilient, and intelligent railway electrical systems.
  
  
• RWL-13: Maglev and Hyperloop Systems: Technical challenges in ultra-high-speed mobility
  organised by:
  Prof. Weihua Zhang, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  Prof. Gino D'Ovidio, University of L’Aquila, Italy
  Prof. Guobin Lin, Tongji University, China
  Dr. Karel van Dalen, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
  Prof. Zigang Deng, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  Dr. Fei Ni, Tongji University, China
  Dr. Haitao Li, Southwest Jiaotong University, China
  
  This special session is dedicated to exploring the continuously advancing core disciplines within Maglev and Hyperloop technology. It will focus on the latest research, innovations, and practical developments in key areas including, but not limited to:
  • Vehicle-guideway dynamics;
  • Control and stabilization systems;
  • Infrastructure design for reliability and efficiency;
  • Strategic operational planning.
  The session aims to provide a forum for discussing how these foundational pillars are evolving to address modern challenges, enhance system performance, safety, economic viability, and for propelling the Maglev and Hyperloop systems from mature concepts toward wider implementation and optimized operation.
  
  
• RWL-14: Bridging Physics and Data: Hybrid Modelling for Railway Wear and Degradation
  organised by:
  Dr. Annemieke Meghoe, University of Twente, Netherlands
  Dr. Hongrui Wang, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
  Dr. Jonathan Leung, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
  Dr. Mateus Mendes, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Portugal
  Dr. Samuel Hawsksbee, University of Huddersfield, UK
  

  This special session focuses on hybrid modelling approaches for understanding and predicting wheel and rail damage. The emphasis is on bridging physics-based modelling with data driven techniques to better capture degradation mechanisms in railway systems. Contributions are invited that address physical or physics-based models of contact mechanics, material behaviour, and damage evolution of the wheel and rail interface, as well as their integration with measurement data, monitoring systems, and machine learning methods.

  The session aims to highlight how physics informed models can improve prediction accuracy, interpretability, and robustness of data based approaches. The session will also highlight how data can be used to calibrate, validate, and enhance physical models of wheel-rail interaction and associated damage. The overall goal is to advance reliable tools for damage assessment, life prediction, and maintenance decision support in railway infrastructure and rolling stock.

  
  
• RWL-15: Integrating Rail into the Future of Freight: Economics, Intermodal Transport, Terminals, and Logistics (including Urban Cases)
  organised by:
  Prof. Stefano Ricci, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
  Dr. Armando Carrillo, EURNEX Association, Germany
  Prof. Andrew Smith, University of Leeds, UK
  Prof. Nebojsa Bojovic, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  Dr. Milos Milenkovic, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  

  This session explores the evolving role of railways in the global freight ecosystem by examining the intersection of railway economics, intermodal transport, terminal operations, and logistics integration, including and integrating with rail the urban logistics. As supply chains grow more complex and sustainability pressures increase, rail must not only compete on cost and efficiency but also seamlessly integrate with other transport modes.

  Discussions in this session will address the economic viability of rail freight under shifting market dynamics, strategies for optimizing intermodal transfers between road, water, and rail, the design and digitalization of modern freight terminals, and innovations in logistics that enhance rail’s reliability and reach. The session welcomes contributions from researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers, aiming to strengthen rail’s position as a backbone of resilient, low-carbon freight networks.

  
  
• RWL-16: Automatic Train Operations and Virtual Coupling
  organised by:
  Mr. Riccardo Parise, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
  Mr. Kevin Mullankuzhy, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
  
  This special session explores Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Virtual Coupling (VCTS) as complementary routes to higher capacity, resilience and energy efficiency in future railways. Topics of the session include:
  • ATO deployment and GoA evolution (e.g. ATO over ETCS)
  • Virtual-coupling control and stability for platoons
  • Low-latency V2V communications and safe train localization
  • Spacing/policy and heterogeneous braking behaviour
  • Dynamic joining/splitting
  • Cybersecurity
  • Validation and simulation
  • Field trials and regulatory/operational frameworks.
  We invite theoretical, experimental and system-integration papers, as well as case studies addressing technical, safety and socio-economic aspects.
  
  
• RWL-17: Novel Geotechnical Aspects in Rail-Track Performance
  organised by:
  Prof. António Gomes Correia, University of Minho, Portugal
  Dr. Yoshitsugu Momoya, Railway Technical Research Institute, Japan
  Prof. Xuecheng Bian, Zhejiang University, China
  Prof. Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  
  Topics to be addressed in this session include, but are not limited to:
  • Large-scale laboratory advanced tests to support constitutive models for ballast, subballast and subgrade.
  • High resolution field investigation and instrumented embankments/layers to map critical zones and validate laboratory parameters to design.
  • Design with hybrid physics–ML workflows to deliver probabilistic, site specific layer designs and hotspot maps.
  • Advanced monitoring for real time diagnostics to enable early detection of accelerating trends, real time condition assessment and scenario testing for climate impacts and loading changes.
  
  
• RWL-18: Applications in the Design, Analysis, Manufacturing and Materials Aspects of Heavy-Haul Railway Engineering
  organised by:
  Prof. Paulo Kurka , Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
  Prof. Qing Wu, Central Queensland University, Australia
  Prof. Auteliano Santos Jr., Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
  
  This section is dedicated to showcasing applications in heavy-haul railway engineering, with emphasis on design, analysis, manufacturing, and materials aimed at improving safety, efficiency and sustainability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Mechanical design
  • Dynamic and structural modelling
  • Railway signal processing
  • Wheel–rail interaction forces
  • Component manufacturing
  • Characterization of under-rail properties.
  
  
• RWL-19: Application of Geosynthetics in Railway Infrastructure
  organised by:
  Prof. Leoš Horníček, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czechia
  Dr. Jacek Kawalec, Silesian University of Technology/Tensar, Poland/Czechia
  

  Geosynthetics play a vital role in modern railway infrastructure by enhancing the stability, durability and performance of track systems. They are commonly used for subgrade reinforcement, separation, filtration, drainage and erosion control, helping to mitigate issues such as ballast degradation, differential settlement and pumping of fines from weak subgrades. For example, geotextiles are widely applied to separate soil layers and prevent upward migration of fines, thereby improving drainage and long‑term track stability. Geogrids are frequently incorporated within or beneath ballast layers to increase load‑bearing capacity and reduce settlement under heavy cyclic train loads, leading to more resilient trackbeds with extended service life. Additionally, geosynthetics are used for embankment reinforcement and erosion control, protecting vulnerable slopes from weather‑induced degradation and improving overall structural integrity of railway earthworks.

  This session will bring together experts on this multidisciplinary topic to present their recent developments and applications, exchange knoeledge and establish collaboration opportunities.

  
  
• RWL-20: Health/Condition Monitoring and Railway Asset Management
  organised by:
  Dr. Richard Loendersloot, University of Twente, Netherlands
  Prof. Gareth Tucker, University of Huddersfield, UK
  

  This special session focusses on monitoring systems to assess the condition or structural health of railway systems. In-service failure of railway systems can cause delays, safety risks, further damage to equipment and the requirement for unplanned maintenance activities. Remote Condition Monitoring (RCM) of both rolling stock and infrastructure can be used to avoid in-service failures, whilst maximising component life and improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance and asset management. However, many challenges are faced when implementing railway monitoring systems. The challenges range from the harsh environment in which the systems must operate, to the disclosure of data in remote regions and the scale of the network related to the part that can be instrumented.

  Processing condition monitoring data to effectively diagnose defects, calculate remaining useful life or schedule maintenance in the most efficient manner, are still areas of emerging work. Various intervention options are available to asset managers, yet the information coming from monitoring systems is barely used in the decision process and maintenance planning. Disclosing the unused potential offered by the information of monitoring systems, and a full embedding in the asset management decision making process, will result in a breakthrough and will have a major, positive impact on the availability, reliability and safety of railway systems.

  The session is open for both innovative, low TRL methods as well as examples of more matured approaches that are implemented in field pilot studies. Contributions are welcome that focus on smart monitoring system for either rolling stock or infrastructure. Works with a focus on predictive maintenance, understanding component condition across diverse operating ranges or maintenance decision support are particularly welcome.

• RWL-21: Railway Dynamics and Vehicle-Track Interaction
  organised by:
  Dr. Bernd Luber, Virtual Vehicle Research Center, Austria
  Dr. Hugo Magalhães, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  Prof. Enrico Meli, University of Florence, Italy
  Prof. Jose Escalona, University of Seville, Spain
  

  This special session aims to bring together the latest research achievements and case studies regarding vehicle track interaction including wheel-rail contact, vehicle running gear innovations and relevant infrastructure aspects. Papers dealing with developments in design and maintenance are welcome including the use of computer simulation, data processing, artificial intelligence and modern manufacturing and materials methods. Results from the use of novel components and in service experience would also be within scope for this session.

  We hope to include papers from the key researchers in Universities and Industry working on these important topics.

  
  
• RWL-22: Railway Noise and Vibration Prediction, Experimental Assessment and Mitigation
  organised by:
  Dr. Robert Arcos, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain
  Dr. Aires Colaço, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Portugal
  Prof. Pedro Galvín, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
  Dr. Kenny Fernando Conto, University of Cambridge, UK
  Prof. Pedro Alves Costa, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Portugal
  Dr. Hassan Liravi, University of Durham, UK
  Dr. Ahmed Abouelmaty, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Portugal
  

  Mitigating railway-induced noise and vibration remains one of the key challenges for the sustainable development of rail transport. Increasing traffic, higher speeds, urban expansion, and stricter environmental limits require improved tools for noise prediction, measurement and mitigation.

  The aim of this session is to share practical and research developments that support quieter and more sustainable railway systems. Session focuses on recent advances in numerical modelling for the simulation of rolling noise, squeal noise, aerodynamic noise, ground-borne vibration, and re-radiated noise in buildings. Contributions in model validation, uncertainty analysis, data-driven methods and machine learning-based approaches are welcome. The session also covers field and laboratory measurements for railway-induced noise and vibration assessment, including monitoring techniques and standard procedures. Mitigation measures at the source, along the transmission path or at the targeted buildings are also within scope.

  
  

The Conference Editorial Board :