The RSSR conference began in 2016 addressing critical problems faced by the modern railway – how to deliver reliable service to passengers and to freight operators, while maintaining very high levels of safety. This year the RSSRail International Conference will be held in Pistoia  - Italy’s 2017 Capital of Culture.

So what’s new? While these are problems that the railway sector has faced for almost 200 years, new factors and new trends demand new solutions. One of the biggest challenges stems from ever increasing automation, driven by requirements for increased capacity and greater efficiency that are further compounded by increased integration of the railway network with other transport systems. The outcome is incorporation of ever more digital systems, with increasing complexity. This, together with the increased openness and interconnection of the railway systems, brings an ever-greater need for effective cyber security, guarding against malicious threats that could compromise both safety and operational performance.