The National Railway Safety Authority (ANSF), integrated into the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT, I.P.), invites the international community to submit abstracts for presentation at the 2026 edition of the International Railway Safety Conference (IRSC), which will take place in Lisbon from 11 to 16 October 2026.

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The IRSC is recognised as the leading global forum dedicated to railway safety, bringing together regulators, operators, infrastructure managers, manufacturers, academics, and international specialists to discuss emerging challenges, global trends, and innovative solutions aimed at strengthening safety across the sector. Established in 1990, the conference promotes in-depth exchange of experience through keynote presentations, thematic sessions, debates, and technical visits.

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In 2026, Portugal will host this prestigious event at a decisive moment for the future of the national railway system, marked by the development of high-speed rail and by an increasing focus on innovation, interoperability, sustainability, and the enhancement of operational safety.

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Themes for Submission

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Authors are invited to submit original abstracts aligned with the thematic sessions set out in the preliminary conference programme:

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1. Initial integrity change management;

2. Maintenance & Management of emergencies;

3. Front line workers;

4. Safety Management;

5. Competence Culture;

6. Resilience to extreme natural events;

7. Railway incursions;

8. Innovation.

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E-Posters

Proposals for e-poster presentations are also welcome and will be displayed during the conference coffee breaks.

Visible area: 1209,6 mm (height) x 680,4 mm (width)

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Files format:

• Images: JPG, PNG (preferencial in high resolution)
• Videos: MP4 (recomended, H.264 format)

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Screen specifications and accepted file formats for the E-Posters:

• Portrait orientation
• Dimensions: 1080 × 1920 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Accepted file format: High-quality PNG or JPEG files.

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Submission Guidelines (Update)

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• Abstract length: up to 1000 words (approximately 2 pages long)
• Language: English
• Format: PDF or Word (.doc/.docx)

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Selected authors will be asked to submit the presentation, as well as the e-poster before 15 September 2026.

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• Submission deadline: 21 June 2026
• Notification of selected authors: following review by the Scientific Committee: 23 July 2026
• Presentation submission deadline: 11 September 2026
• E-Poster submission deadline: 11 September 2026
• Submission of presentations and E-poster by email - irsc2026.abstracts@imt-ip.pt

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For any questions related to the call for abstracts, please contact us at this email address irsc2026.abstracts@imt-ip.pt.

Please note that abstract submissions will not be accepted via email.

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Evaluation Criteria

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Abstracts will be evaluated based on:

• Originality and contribution to railway safety
• Relevance to the conference themes
• Clarity and technical accuracy
• Potential for practical application and sector improvement

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Additional Information

The preliminary programme includes an opening ceremony, technical sessions, stakeholder meetings, social events (Welcome Cocktail, Gala Dinner, Farewell Cocktail), and specialist technical visits on 15 and 16 October.