HOSTS

The International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) is at the forefront of driving innovation and excellence in the world of heavy haul railway operations, engineering, maintenance, and technology. Since its founding in 1976, IHHA has remained committed to pushing the boundaries of the industry through cutting-edge knowledge exchange, delivering the latest technical advancements, and sharing best practices to meet the ever-evolving landscape of rail transportation.

The 2025 IHHA Conference, with the theme Inspiring Innovative and Resilient Railways, is set to be an exciting convergence of ideas, insights, and solutions. This global platform provides a unique opportunity for researchers, industry leaders, policy-makers, and innovators from around the world to share groundbreaking research, collaborate on transformative solutions, and forge new connections that will shape the future of rail transport.

The conference will be split into the following streams, covering a varied range of sub-topics:

• Sustainable innovation:
  Decarbonisation of rail | Alternate fuels | Resource efficiency | Circular economy | Sustainable innovation in heavy haul railway projects | Sustainability challenges and opportunities for heavy haul railways
• Vehicle track systems:
  Vehicle/Track Interaction | Wheel/Rail interface analysts, optimization and management | Safety and derailment prevention | Condition monitoring | Vehicle/Track systems and optimization | Big data analytics with prognostics | Automation in heavy haul systems
• Track:
  Track maintenance | Track component performance | Longitudinal stresses in rails | Rail welding | Special track work | Track geometry | Increasing Axle loads on existing infrastructure | Construction and maintenance standards | New design, re-designs, new materials
• Bridges and tunnels:
  Bridge management systems | Bridge rehabilitation and strengthening | Bridge loading | Structural health monitoring of bridges | Condition and structure performance assessment | Tunnel operations, management and maintenance | New design, re-designs, new materials
• Rail operations:
  Network capacity and operational efficiency | Long haul trains | Train control and capacity optimization | Heavy axle loading (HAL) economics | Signalling system | Electrification technology | Security and safety | Service reliability | New design, re-designs, new materials
• Rolling stock:
  Wheels, axles and bearings | Wagon design and maintenance | Brake systems | Detector-based wagon maintenance | New design, re-designs, new materials
• Motive power, traction and efficiency
  High horsepower locomotives | Locomotive maintenance and reliability | Traction power supply | Environment, energy and sustainability

The IHHA 2025 is co-located with WCRR 2025 under the event banner Rail Research Week, hosted by MxV Rail. Join us at this landmark event to engage with the brightest minds in the industry, explore the latest trends, and contribute to the next chapter of rail innovation.