Join the IRSE and two leading UK universities in York and/or Birmingham this November for 3 days of insightful seminars

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 Awardfor 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.

This listing is to book for the University of York, 17 November 2026 seminar

York, UK - Nov 17th https://irse.info/york26

Programme details are subject to confirmation.

YORK SEMINAR PROGRAMME

Leading Edge Developments in Railway Technology

Tuesday 17 November 2026

Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York

Provisional timings and programme

08:15–09:00 | Registration and Coffee

Delegate registration and networking

Location: Atrium

09:00–09:10 | Welcome and Introductions

Rod Muttram, FIRSE

IRSE President

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers

Location: Seminar Room

09:10–09:50 | Seminar 1

Professor Clive Roberts, FIRSE

University of Durham

Location: Seminar Room

Presentation title to be confirmed.

09:50–10:30 | Seminar 2

Professor David Grace

Migration to FRMCS for Next-Generation Train Control

University of York

Institute for Safe Autonomy

School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

Location: Seminar Room

10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break

Networking

Location: Atrium

11:00–11:40 | Seminar 3

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

11:40–12:20 | Seminar 4

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

12:20–13:40 | Lunch and University Tour

Lunch, networking and a tour of University facilities

Location: Atrium

13:40–14:20 | Seminar 5

Dr Jie Zou, Dr Josh Hunter and Professor John McDermid OBE, FREng

Structural Causal World Models and Their Application to Virtual Coupling

University of York

Institute for Safe Autonomy

Centre for Assuring Autonomy

Location: Seminar Room

14:20–15:00 | Seminar 6

Xiangyi Li

Heavy Haul Train Group Operation Control System

CRSC Research & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd.

Location: Seminar Room

15:00–15:40 | Seminar 7

Speaker and presentation title to be confirmed

Location: Seminar Room

15:40–16:00 | Closing Remarks and Close

Rod Muttram, FIRSE

IRSE President

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers

Location: Seminar Room

Description supplied by the event organiser.