The 5th edition of the UIC Excellence in Railway Publications Awards took place on 14 October 2025 with over 70 participants from different continents, most of whom attended in person at UIC HQ in Paris.
François Davenne, UIC DG, provided a video message for the occasion: “I am very pleased to open the fifth edition of the UIC Excellence in Railway Publications Awards, which celebrate clear, practical and useful documents that support daily railway operations. These awards honour the collective effort of our community to produce standards and guidelines that enhance safety, efficiency and interoperability across borders. Standardisation is strategic: it builds trust, strengthens competitiveness and ensures a truly global railway. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to every expert and partner whose work makes rail stronger and more sustainable for the future.”
Adriano Scapati, UIC Rail System Director, introduced the ceremony and highlighted the collective effort put in.
Adeline Bouvresse, former Chief Standardisation Officer, presented the list of awards by category. UIC Standardisation Platform Chair Asako Togari and Vice Chair Laurent Schmitt (Groupe SNCF) took the floor to explain the evaluation process, celebrate the top-rated publications and congratulate all the winners.
The awards were attributed to the following categories and experts:
- Business oriented:
- IRS 40474: Catalogue of harmonised train procedures for the accelerated transfer of freight trains between cooperating Railway Undertakings (RUs) at handover points. Sven Seligmann (Deutsche Bahn), represented by Iannis Verhaeghe (Hexafret)
- Guideline UIC High-Speed Atlas 2024: Eduardo Romo Urroz (FCH)
- Proficiently developed:
- IRS 50544-1: on Brakes – Braking performance, Recommendations for use. Laurent Frechede (UIC)
- IRS 75718: Measurement procedures and noise data collection criteria for parked trains. Jakob Oertli (SBB CFF FFS), Martijn Wolf (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) and Monika Rukia (UICl)
- Innovative with value added:
- IRS 70797-1: Railway application – Fixed installations – Guidelines for energy recovery in reversible substations. Ines Vadillo Cortázar (ADIF)
- IRS 71720: Railway Infrastructure – Laying and maintenance of track – Tracks with continuous welded rails. Bernhard Knoll (ÖBB), represented by Dr Michael Kohler (BAV)
- Interfaces with external organisations:
- Harmotrack Guidelines: Nicolas Lestoille (SNCF Réseau), represented by Samuel Pelisson
Adriano Scapati congratulated the winners and acknowledged the teams working behind the scenes who made both the IRSs and this event possible. He also expressed his gratitude to Asako Togari, Laurent Schmitt, Adeline Bouvresse and Mouna Bennouna, UIC Head of Planning & Production.
All the documents presented at the Awards are available in our online shop at UIC Railway Publications.
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