New Delhi: Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), in association with the Centre for Heavy Haul Rail Research & Development (CHHRR&D), organised the Second International Heavy Haul Seminar 2026 (IHHS-2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The seminar, being held on 5th and 6th June, is themed “Engineering Reliability at Scale: The Next Phase of Heavy Haul Railways – Integrating Engineering, Maintenance and Intelligence across High-Capacity Freight Systems.”

The seminar brought together railway experts, industry leaders, researchers, and technology specialists from India, Australia, Austria, Germany, the UK, and the US to discuss the future of heavy haul freight transportation.

Welcoming delegates, DFCCIL MD Praveen Kumar said the next phase of railway growth will depend on corridor-wide reliability, intelligent maintenance, digital technologies, and institutional learning to ensure safe and efficient freight operations. Keynote speakers, including Railway Board Secretary R Mohanraja and IHHA President & CEO of MxV Rail, USA, Kari Gonzales, emphasized innovation, asset reliability, capacity enhancement, and global cooperation in building sustainable freight rail systems.

During the event, Praveen Kumar released the second edition of the Technical Compendium featuring research papers and technical contributions from railway experts.

The first day featured three major technical sessions. Experts discussed innovative rail grinding, hotspot milling, and flashbutt welding techniques. IHHS-2026 continues to serve as a global platform for sharing best practices and advanced technologies between established and emerging freight railway networks. The seminar's second day will focus on rolling stock innovation, freight operations, sustainability, asset management, and emerging technologies shaping the future of heavy haul railways.