What can students learn from the challenges facing the railway?
by Infrabel
2 mins
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You travel by train to commute to class, to your student job or to visit your friends. But what allows the trains you take to run safely, what prevents them from getting in each other’s way, and what enables the rail network to evolve towards more sustainable mobility?
The Infrabel Rail Lectures (spread over three days) will provide you with a deeper insight into the challenges the rail sector is facing today and, above all, show you the solutions applied today and which direction tomorrow’s rail is heading.
Keynote messages addressed in the Lectures
1) Technology with impact: digitalisation in the railway
At Infrabel, digitalisation is not a buzzword. It is a key driver of a safer, more efficient, and more reliable rail network. You will discover how we use technologies such as AI, VR, GIS, big data and IoT to improve analysis capabilities, enhance workforce training, and empower teams to make faster decisions every day.
2) Why European cooperation is essential
Trains do not stop at the border, so safety systems should not either. In the session on ERTMS, you will learn how GSM-R (communications) and ETCS (train control system) work together to create a common European standard. This makes cross-border traffic smoother, and helps enhancing safety and capacity.
3) Sustainable mobility also requires energy expertise
Electric trains are a major asset for the climate, but they also require energy: a lot of energy, at the right time, in the right place. You will gain an insight into the challenge of delivering electricity from the public grid to the train in a safe and stable manner, and how this fits into the wider energy transition.
4) Rail is a team effort (and technology is not the only answer)
The railway is a complex system where everything is interconnected: maintenance, safety, planning, capacity and passengers’ expectations. You will see why a purely technical solution is not always enough, and why a holistic approach is needed to achieve real improvements.
5) More trains on the same network: the capacity challenge
More people and goods on the railways is good news, but it also makes the puzzle more difficult. How can you run more trains on the same infrastructure whilst ensuring they are both safe and punctual? You will discover how infrastructure managers need to make smart choices in this regard.
6) Maintenance is becoming predictive (and this benefits the passengers)
Where maintenance used to be largely reactive, it is increasingly shifting towards predictive maintenance. Thanks to data coming from sensors, measurement trains and analyses, potential issues can be detected earlier. As a result, we are seeing fewer disruptions, fewer delays and a higher network availability.
7) You discover where your profile could fit in
The challenges of tomorrow call for people who can switch between technology, data, operations and policy. These lectures demonstrate just how broad the rail sector is and how, with your future expertise, you can make a real contribution to safe, high-performing and sustainable mobility in Europe.
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Also read: Join the Belgian Startup Roadshow in October 🚀
Programme (3 days, 6 sessions)
Tuesday 10/11/2026
• 09:30–12:00 — ERTMS (GSM R & ETCS) — Bavo Lens
• 13:00–15:30 — Emerging technologies (AI, VR, GIS) — Jean Philippe Draye
Tuesday 18/11/2026
• 09:30–12:00 — Electricity & energy transition in railways — Koen De Gussemé
• 13:00–15:30 — Infrabel & evolution of the railway in a European perspective — Frédéric Petit
Tuesday 24/11/2026
• 09:30–12:00 — Railway process & capacity — Melissa Bloch & Koen De Keersmaeker
• 13:00–15:30 — Smart Railway (data-driven asset management) — Pieter Verlinden, Lorraine Braibant & Julien Leroy
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Practically
• Location: Infrabel Academy
• Participation: free of charge
• You choose: one or several sessions
