About this Event
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
Peter Scott House
Booking.com
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 PROGRAMME
Leading 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 Area
DAY 2 — Thursday 19 November 2026
08:15–09:00 | Registration and Coffee
Delegate registration and networking
Location: Foyer
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 Tao Tang, FIRSE
Self-Innovative Rail Transit Operation System
Beijing Jiaotong University
Location: Seminar Room
09:50–10:30 | Seminar 2
Fanyong Meng
Key Technologies and Applications for Cross-Border Interoperability of ETCS Train Control Systems
CRSC Research & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd.
Location: Seminar Room
10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break
Location: Foyer
11:00–11:40 | Seminar 3
Xiangning Jiang
Key Technologies and Applications of Intelligent Train Scheduling for Urban Rail Transit
Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd.
Location: Seminar Room
11:40–12:20 | Seminar 4
Ning Zhao — to be confirmed
“Light Rail” — provisional title
University of Birmingham
Location: To be confirmed
12:20–12:40 | Closing Remarks
Rod Muttram, FIRSE
IRSE President
Institution of Railway Signal Engineers
Location: Seminar Room
Please note: This programme is provisional and may be subject to change.
Event venue & nearby stays
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.