Join the IRSE and two leading UK universities in York and/or Birmingham this November for expert insight into technolgies shaping moders S&T

Two locations. Many fascinating insights.

Join the IRSE and two leading UK universities in York and/or Birmingham this November for expert insight into the ideas and technologies shaping modern railway signalling, telecommunications, train control and operations.

Hear from specialists working across industry and education, including the team from China behind Virtual Coupling Technology and Its Application in Urban Rail Transit—winner of the 2026 IRSE Global Industry Award for Innovation of the Year, a technology which enables trains to operate as coordinated formations without physical couplers, using train-to-train communication, cooperative control and intelligent dispatching.

There will be other leading-edge presentations from both China and the UK including the use of quantum techniques.

Whether you join us in York (one day with a Presidential lecture the evening before) or Birmingham (one and a half days), Leading Edge Developments in Railway Technology offers an opportunity to encounter emerging thinking, practical innovation and meet some of the people advancing railway technology today.

There will be common presentations at both locations but also some that are location specific so check out the full programmes and booking information on the IRSE website and pick which is best for you or even consider attending both.

Looking for somewhere to stay to attend both Birmingham seminar days?

Edgbaston Park Hotel (https://edgbastonparkhotelbirmingham.reservationscenter.com/hotel/edgbaston-park-hotel-birmingham-53-edgbaston-park-road-birmingham?modal&msclkid=8c1fd326eb6c11e937b6b9b2a1fb08b8&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=United%20Kingdom%20of%20Great%20Britain%20and%20Northern%20Ireland&utm_term=edgbaston%20park%20hotel&utm_content=United%20Kingdom%20of%20Great%20Britain%20and%20Northern%20Ireland%20%7C%20Birmingham%20%7C%20Edgbaston%20Park%20Hotel%20Birmingham)

Peter Scott House (https://app.business.booking.com/xapp/en-US/stay/details/36557?adultCount=1&aid=308014&aid_label=msn-_2xQIKfBSnhxn20a9Tv0gQ-80264529671541%3Atikwd-80264740535342%3Aloc-188%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp41471%3Adec%3Acid578719619%3Aagid1284230227016598%3Aclkid7aafe5a51a231090deee8f3151501aab&checkinDate=2026-08-30&checkoutDate=2026-08-31&destinationId=3543&destinationType=district&guestAccountCountryCode=GB&guestCurrency=GBP&label=zenodeeplinksr&roomCount=1&destinationName=Edgbaston)

Booking.com (https://app.business.booking.com/xapp/en-US/stay/search-results?adultCount=1&aid=308014&aid_label=msn-_2xQIKfBSnhxn20a9Tv0gQ-80264529671541:tikwd-80264740535342:loc-188:neo:mte:lp41471:dec:cid578719619:agid1284230227016598:clkid7aafe5a51a231090deee8f3151501aab&checkinDate=2026-08-30&checkoutDate=2026-08-31&destinationId=3543&destinationType=district&guestAccountCountryCode=GB&guestCurrency=GBP&label=zenodeeplinksr&roomCount=1)

This listing is for tickets to attend Birmingham on 18 and 19 November

Birmingham, UK - Nov 18 & 19 https://irse.info/birmingham26

*Programme details are subject to confirmation.

BIRMINGHAM SEMINAR PROGRAMMELeading Edge Developments in Railway Technology

18–19 November 2026

UKKRIN Building, Y20 Yellow Zone, Edgbaston Campus, University of Birmingham

Provisional timings and programme

DAY 1 — Wednesday 18 November 2026

09:00–09:50 | Registration and Coffee

Delegate registration and networking

Location: Foyer

09:50–10:00 | Welcome and Introductions

Rod Muttram, FIRSE

IRSE President

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers

Location: Seminar Room

10:00–10:40 | Seminar 1

Ning Zhao

Autonomous Railway Systems and Smart Train Control

University of Birmingham

Location: Seminar Room

10:40–11:20 | Seminar 2

Matt Nolan and Kam Chohan

DLR AI Trespass Detection System

KAD / Transport for London

Location: Seminar Room

11:20–11:40 | Coffee Break

Location: Foyer

11:40–12:20 | Seminar 3

Professor John McDermid OBE, FREng

Assuring Autonomy with Applications in Rail

University of York

Institute for Safe Autonomy

Centre for Assuring Autonomy

Location: Seminar Room

12:20–13:00 | Seminar 4

Ming Jiang

Application and Development of Chinese Signalling Systems for High-Speed Railways

CRSC Research & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd.

Location: Seminar Room

13:00–14:00 | Lunch

Location: Foyer

14:00–14:40 | Seminar 5

Yilong Wen and Wei Wang, FIRSE

Research and Application of Virtual Coupling Operation Control Technology for Urban Rail Transit

Winner of the IRSE Global Award 2026 – Innovation of the Year

Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd.

Location: Seminar Room

14:40–15:20 | Seminar 6

Speaker and presentation title to be confirmed

Location: Seminar Room

15:20–15:30 | Closing Remarks

Rod Muttram, FIRSE

IRSE President

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers

Location: Seminar Room

15:30–17:00 | Seminar Close and Networking Refreshments

Networking refreshments

Location: Seminar Room and Breakout A

Description supplied by the event organiser.