Call for Papers

During this congress, Parallel Sessions covering the main subjects relating to High-Speed Rail (HSR) will take place over one-and-a-half days. The Scientific Committee of the Congress is in charge of setting the programme of those Parallel Sessions as well as selecting the speakers and papers.

Programme of Parallel Sessions

The Parallel Sessions will be held in 5 different rooms respectively through 5 successive time slots:

• Slot 1: Tuesday 7 March from 2:00 to 3:45 pm
• Slot 2: Tuesday 7 March from 4:15 to 6:00 pm
• Slot 3: Wednesday 8 March from 11:00 to 12:45 am
• Slot 4: Wednesday 8 March from 2:00 to 3:45 pm
• Slot 5: Wednesday 8 March from 4:15 to 6:00 pm

Programme of Parallel Sessions

This programme can be adapted or modified according to the number of abstracts received.

Rules for Applicant Speakers

Applicant Speakers (Applicants) are invited to make one or several Proposals (“Abstracts”).

Each Abstract should be submitted by one person only: papers with two or more Applicants are not accepted. However, the Abstracts may mention their co-authors and other contributors in their core text.

If selected, the Applicant will be the Speaker in charge of delivering the presentation in person during the congress.

For each submitted abstract, the Applicant will indicate:

• The General topic
• The Main sub-topic
• The Detailed sub-topic
• One or two keywords of their own choice

This information will help to shape the programme of the Parallel Sessions by sorting the Abstracts per topic and by creating homogenous sessions.

A list of General topics and sub-topics is suggested in appendix 1. Applicants should preferably use them.

Example: Mr X submits an Abstract about capacity of rolling stock. Considering its content, the following keywords are selected:

• General topic: Rolling Stock
• Main sub-topic: Conception and design
• Detailed sub-topic: Functional and technical specifications
• Key word 1: Train architecture
• Key word 2: Seat capacity

If no general topic and or sub-topic is adequately descriptive, the Applicant can use the “any other topic” option by indicating an additional topic and or sub-topic.

By providing the Scientific Committee with a Proposal, Applicants commit themselves to deliver a Presentation at the Congress venue in accordance with the Congress programme.

If after selection on the basis of their Proposal, the Applicant’s Presentation is not consistent with their Proposal or not compliant with the rules and guidance, the Scientific Committee will be entitled to ask the Applicant to make changes, or in extremis, decline the Proposal.

Should the Applicant not be available to present to the Congress, he/she must immediately advise the Scientific Committee and nominate a suitably qualified alternative for approval. The Scientific Committee reserves the right to decline the proposed alternatives and cancel the Presentation.

The Scientific Committee may reject any Abstract which does not comply with the rules and the schedule of this Call for Papers without having to justify the decision, and, in such a case, no claim would be considered.

The decisions of the Scientific Committee are final.

Preparation schedule

The present Call for Papers is launched on the Monday 16 May 2022.

Proposals (Abstracts + Short biographies + Photos) must be submitted no later than Saturday 15 October 2022.

All applications, regardless of origin, sent in after the deadline or not complying with the guidelines and the deadline may be declined by the Scientific Committee.

Mandatory guidelines for applications

Applications shall be submitted on www.uichighspeed.org/call-for-papers-2023/ , by completing and submitting the form including all the data required (an abstract, a short biography and a photo). All fields of the form are mandatory (as indicated).

The Abstracts will be in English only.

Selection of Speakers

The Scientific Committee will select the Proposals by 28 October 2022.

Selection will be taking into account:

Comprehension of the subject addressed by the Applicant

• Compliance of the subject with the Congress programme
• Main interest, novelty and/or originality of the paper content
• Fair geographical representation at the Congress with participation from a wide range of entities

While selecting the Abstracts, the Scientific Committee will give priority to submissions which are consistent with the Congress moto: “High-Speed Rail: the right speed for our planet”. This means that papers about Territory Management, Sustainable mobility and/or innovations in the High-Speed Rail sector, or relating indirectly to it, will be given some priority. In addition, as the Congress is a recurring event, the Scientific Committee will also consider very favourably abstracts divulging technological progress made since the previous congress held in Ankara, Turkey in May 2018.

The Scientific Committee will inform each Applicant of its decision by 15 December 2022 by e-mail at the latest, stating whether he/she has been selected, not selected or put on a waiting list. In the case of the first and last responses, details of the Parallel Session to which they may participate will be given. At the same time, instructions will be sent about the required format for the Presentation.

Presentations must be in English and produced in PowerPoint format. Each presentation is limited to 15 minutes and 12 slides including title slide and the final slide.

Slides should highlight key facts, dates and graphics illustrating the paper and avoid repeating long texts.

Delivery of presentations

Final version of presentations of the selected Speakers must be handed in by 15 January 2023. No new presentations and no modifications to Presentations will be admitted after this date. All Presentations must be sent by e-mail to an address which will be advised in the acceptance e-mails.

Non-compliance with this rule and/or the Presentation format may lead to the disqualification of the Speaker and his/her replacement by a Speaker from the waiting list. In addition, each selected Speaker may be asked to accept changes requested by the Session Chair so as to ensure consistency between sessions and avoid repetition.

Congress fees

The selection as a Speaker allows admission to the Congress without paying Congress fees (only one gratuity in case of a speaker selected for more than one paper).

Travel reservation and accommodation expenses will remain in any case, at the charge of Speakers.

List of topics