The 14th edition of Africa Railway Safety Training, organised by the Moroccan National Railways (ONCF) and UIC, took place from 8 to 12 June online, joined by participants from North, West, and Central Africa.

The programme included presentations on track maintenance and monitoring, including planning, organisation, monitoring, and control; as well as track geometry, which comprised survey programmes and performance, rail defects classification and monitoring methods, track work safety, human and organisational factors, risk management, among others.

Giancarlo de Marco Telese, Deputy Head of the Operations and Safety Unit at UIC lead a session that focused on the following UIC activities:

• Translate4Rail (T4R), which aims to overcome language barriers in cross-border rail operations through standardised predefined messages, improving safety, efficiency, and training.
• The Iberian blackout, which highlighted the critical importance of energy resilience, redundant communications, and strong crisis coordination in railway systems.
• The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) as a core innovation enabling automated, digital, and more efficient freight train operations across Europe.
• The harmonised DAC Rulebook, which is being developed to standardise operational processes, using clear flowcharts and modular rules to support implementation across stakeholders.

UIC-organised railway training sessions are crucial for strengthening local expertise in Africa, harmonising standards, and supporting the sustainable development of efficient and safe rail systems across the continent. It is also essential to achieve the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 by building skilled human capital that supports safe, efficient, and integrated rail networks to drive economic growth and regional connectivity.