The Talent Expertise Development Platform (TEDP) successfully concluded its Autumn Event on 29 and 30 October 2024, in Valencia, Spain. Hosted by the Spanish railway infrastructure manager ADIF’s Technological Training Centre (ATTC), the event brought together railway training leaders and experts to work together, share knowledge, and explore innovative solutions for the future of railway training.
Prior to the main event, the TEDP Steering Committee convened on the morning of 28 October to discuss the platform’s events, priorities, and future direction. In the afternoon, the TEDP Training Centres Network, Railway Talent, and Education, Innovation & Research working groups met, both online and in-person, to make progress on their respective projects, share best practices, and coordinate efforts to address the evolving needs of HR and expertise development in the railway industry.
On 29 October, the TEDP Autumn Event was officially opened by José Vicente Manclús Tur, ADIF Training Deputy Director; Miguel Viana, TEDP Chair; and Meryem Belhaj-Clot, UIC Deputy HR Director and Head of HR Development. Francisco Javier Sanchez Bolumar, Chief of the ATTC, introduced the centre and outlined the agenda for the two days.
The first day was dedicated to exploring the theme of digital transformation in railway training. In the workshop, attendees explored innovative solutions such as ADIF’s MyTraining App for streamlined training and immersive technologies for more engaging learning. Experts from ADIF and the national Spanish railway network RENFE demonstrated advanced simulation tools for improving operational safety and efficiency.
To complement the theoretical discussions, participants visited ADIF’s training facilities, exploring cutting-edge technologies such as software simulators, immersive classrooms, and VR simulations. The tour also highlighted ADIF’s commitment to high-quality training through hyflex classrooms, hardware simulators, and railway traffic control centres.
The first day concluded with updates from the TEDP Training Centres Network Chair Alenka Dodig, Railway Talent Chair Vito Pagliarisi, and Education, Innovation and Research Chair Arpad Domjan, on the outcomes of their meetings on the previous day. The attendees also received updates on the upcoming 2nd UIC TrainRail Hackathon and were invited to take part.
The second day focused on the challenges in and opportunities of railway training facilities. A workshop bringing together international experts, including Dodig, in her capacity as Head of the Slovenian Railways (SZ) Training Centre; Pierre Gibbe, Director of the SNCF University of Engineering; Anneli Lontoc, Executive Director at the Philippine Railways Institute; and Yasu Kojima, Talent Management Expert at the East Japan Railway Company, to discuss the latest trends and best practices in the field.
To conclude the event, the participants took part in a technical visit to RENFE’s railway driving training simulators. This hands-on experience provided the participants with a firsthand look at the latest training technologies and methodologies, further enhancing their understanding of the industry’s evolving landscape.
Throughout the event, the participants were involved in lively discussions, roundtable sessions, and technical visits, fostering a collaborative spirit and sharing best practices. Finally, Belhaj-Clot and Yuke Li presented the major upcoming events: the 7th World Congress on Railway Training (WCRT) in Chengdu, China, 9-11 April 2025, and the 2nd UIC TrainRail Hackathon.
TEDP looks forward to the next plenary session, which will be held on 27 November 2024, and remains committed to driving innovation and cooperation within the railway training community.
