The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), in collaboration with the Centre for Heavy Haul Rail Research & Development (CHHRR&D), successfully organized the Second International Heavy Haul Seminar 2026 (IHHS-2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Held on June 5 and 6, the seminar focused on the theme, “Engineering Reliability at Scale: The Next Phase of Heavy Haul Railways – Integrating Engineering, Maintenance and Intelligence across High-Capacity Freight Systems.” The event attracted railway professionals, industry experts, researchers, and technology leaders from India, Australia, Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Addressing the gathering, DFCCIL Managing Director Praveen Kumar highlighted the importance of intelligent maintenance systems, digital technologies, and corridor-wide reliability in supporting the next phase of freight railway growth. Distinguished speakers, including Railway Board Secretary R. Mohanraja and International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) President and MxV Rail CEO Kari Gonzales, emphasized innovation, asset reliability, capacity enhancement, and international cooperation in freight transportation.
During the seminar, the second edition of the Technical Compendium featuring research papers and technical studies from railway professionals was also released. Technical sessions covered advanced rail grinding, hotspot milling, flash-butt welding, rolling stock innovation, sustainability, freight operations, asset management, and emerging technologies.
IHHS-2026 reinforced its position as a leading international platform for knowledge exchange, helping shape the future of high-capacity freight rail systems through global collaboration and technological advancement.
