Korea National Railway to sponsor UIC High-Speed Rail Congress 2023

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Between 7 and 10 March 2023, the 11th edition of the UIC High-Speed Rail Congress will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco under the auspices of UIC and ONCF and with the patronage of His Majesty King Mohamed VI, bringing together the world’s key players in high-speed rail.

“High-speed rail: the right speed for our planet”

The congress is recognised as the most important gathering on the topic of high-speed rail. Adopting “High-speed rail: the right speed for our planet” as its slogan, the congress will emphasise rail’s contribution to addressing climate change and its role in territorial development.

The UIC has chosen the Kingdom of Morocco to host this year’s congress, reflecting its position in the high-speed rail domain in Africa and the Middle East.

The congress organisers are delighted to announce that the first platinum sponsor is Korea National Railway (KNR), the state-owned agency responsible for construction and management of national rail infrastructures.

KNR led the transport revolution of Korea with the opening of Gyeongbu high-speed railway in 2004 and has been leading the improvement of transport services and balanced national territorial development by seeing to quality construction and management of national railways through continuous investments in technology and innovation.

Mr Hanyoung Kim, CEO of KNR, celebrated the announcement by saying that “Korea National Railway is pleased to sponsor the UIC High-Speed Rail Congress 2023 and, with thanks to the organisers UIC and ONCF, we extend our best wishes for a very successful 11th Edition of the Congress.”

High-level speakers and representatives

The Congress will also be attended by a number of high-level keynote speakers, representatives and railway CEOs from regions across the world, including: Krzysztof Mamiński (PKP); Mohamed Rabie Khlie (ONCF); Jean-Pierre Farandou (SNCF); María Luisa Domínguez (ADIF); LI Wenxin (CR); Bashar Al Malike (SAR); Luigi Corradi (Trenitalia); Hee-Seung NA (Korail); Isaías Táboas Suárez (RENFE); Hasan Pezük (TCDD); Niko Warbanoff (DB E.C.O. Group); Stephen Gardner (Amtrak, US); Ilya Volkov (ISR); Kamel Al Vazir (Egypt); Barbara Barr (FRA, US); Khalid As Sultan (TSA, Saudi Arabia); Brian Kelly (CHSRA, US); and Joubert Flores (ANP Trilhos, Brazil).

ONCF Director General Mohamed Rabie Khlie and UIC Director General François Davenne cordially invite major players in the mobility chain on the five continents to participate in this unique event. “It is an optimal framework in which to maximise the added value of the railways for the community and share the latest technological advances. The potential of high-speed rail solutions adapted to the growth of sustainable mobility on a global scale is far from exhausted,” they said. “Despite the COVID-19 lockdowns having a positive effect on pollution levels, this was shortlived and the fight against climate change, now more than ever, remains a priority. This is why trains, and especially high-speed trains, continue to be an important asset and efficient mode of transport for medium and long-distance travel. Fortunately, the pandemic did not prevent the expansion of high-speed railways with their total length going from 44,000km in 2020 to approximately 59,000km in 2022, an increase of over 1/3. Moreover, the number of countries making use of high-speed railways is only increasing, as additional countries are in the process of developing projects. Therefore, it is clear that speed was and still is the key to passenger rail success. We need to consider the socio-economic benefits to be gained from high-speed railways, and how they may engender a modal shift from roads and air transport to railways. But, at the same time, we need to ensure that a certain synergy remains between these forms of transport, as they each have their own area of importance. It is also time to assess what forms of technological progress are contributing to the climate emergency. Three billion passengers use high-speed trains every year, and this growth is being driven by the continued expansion of the high-speed rail network and associated services.”

Some 59,000km of high-speed lines are currently in operation worldwide, and this figure will double in the next 30 years. Countries that have already embarked on this path are completing their own networks, joined by new countries and states convinced by the benefits of high-speed rail. This poses a number of strategic, industrial, technical and financial challenges which the Congress will address over three days. More than 1,500 participants are expected to attend the 11th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Marrakesh, incuding political decision-makers, transport authorities, railway companies and key players in intermodality, infrastructure managers, industrialists, financial institutions, customers, study and research institutes, universities, etc., all of whom are invited to take part in the event’s working sessions, trade show and technical visits.

The congress exhibition is open to all actors and partners who are committed to the operations of high-speed rail systems across the world. Covering an area of 1,100m², the exhibition is an opportunity to meet the key players of the railway world, establish leading partnerships, benefit from rea l opportunities to develop your image, network, and business opportunities.

For more information, please visit the 11th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail website.