On 18 June 2026, a UIC Africa Rolling Stock Taskforce webinar was organised as a part of the UIC Africa Region’s annual programme.

In his welcome message, Adriano Scapati, UIC Director of the Rail System Department, highlighted that rolling stock is essential for Africa’s railway development, as it drives transport capacity, efficiency, and reliability for both freight and passengers. He stressed that modern, well-maintained fleets help reduce operational costs, strengthen trade corridors, and improve regional connectivity. Scapati also emphasised the environmental benefits, noting that rail can lower emissions and reduce road congestion by shifting transport from road to rail and underlined UIC’s role in supporting Africa through standards, expertise, training, partnerships, and financing initiatives to modernise rolling stock and build local capabilities.

The programme included a training session on maintenance by Henri Tsukahara, UIC Senior Advisor of Rolling Stock and Labelling. The presentation outlined key rolling stock maintenance principles, emphasising safety, reliability, availability, and cost-efficiency across the railway lifecycle. It explained European regulatory frameworks, notably the role of the Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) and structured maintenance levels from routine checks to heavy overhauls.

Preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance, supported by data monitoring, feedback systems, and continuous improvement of maintenance rules were also emphasised.

The programme also showcased the UIC project TrainDY, a UIC-developed software that simulates train dynamics to analyse risks, optimise performance, and support the design of longer and heavier freight trains. The presentation was delivered by Andrea Ottati, Chair of the TrainDY group, and Hajar Toumi, UIC Junior Rolling Stock Advisor.