Paris will host the 56th Watford Conference from 14 to 16 October 2026, bringing together international stakeholders to discuss the future of rail infrastructure and its growing role in urban transformation.
Held under the auspices of the Watford Group and organised with the support of the International Union of Railways (UIC), the conference is a long-standing international forum dedicated to the future of railway systems and infrastructure. Now in its 56th edition, the event continues to provide a platform for dialogue among decision-makers, experts, and professionals from across the sector.
The 2026 conference will place particular emphasis on the way rail infrastructure is evolving beyond its transport function to become a major component of city development. In many metropolitan areas, stations, transport hubs and rail corridors are increasingly viewed as strategic assets capable of reshaping neighbourhoods, improving connectivity, supporting regeneration, and creating stronger links between mobility, public space, and economic activity.
The event will provide an opportunity to examine the broader impact of rail projects on cities and regions, including the redesign of station districts, the integration of transport infrastructure into urban environments, and the architectural and planning challenges associated with major modernisation programmes. It will also explore how such projects can contribute to more sustainable, accessible and better-connected urban areas.
Held in Paris, the conference will bring together participants from different disciplines to exchange views on infrastructure in a context of climate transition, changing mobility needs and increasing pressure on cities to adapt and modernise.
By placing rail at the centre of discussions on urban change, the 56th Watford Conference, under the auspices of the Watford Group, will offer a timely perspective on the relationship between infrastructure investment, urban development and the future shape of cities.
More information is available at:
UIC: https://uic.org/events/56th-watford-conference-to-be-held-from-14-16-october-2026-in-paris
Watford Group: https://watford-group.org/
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