[Conference Notice] High-Level Dialogue on Integrated Transport and Urban Development: From 150 Years of Chinese Railways to Global Sustainable Development

  • May 19, 2026

The High-Level Dialogue on Integrated Transport and Urban Development, jointly organized by the International Association for China Planning (IACP), Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU), and the journal Urban Rail Transit, will be held at Beijing Jiaotong University on July 6, 2026.

The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Chinese railways and the 130th anniversary of Beijing Jiaotong University. Looking back at the historical journey of China’s railways, rail transit has profoundly shaped regional connectivity, urban spatial structures, and travel behaviors, becoming a vital force supporting national strategic implementation and high-quality urban development.

This event invites renowned experts in railway and rail transit from the UK, Canada, Italy, Japan, and China. They will engage in an international dialogue focusing on topics such as railway-driven regional space and planning transformation, the revitalization of major rail transit hubs, rail-oriented life circles, and the economic revitalization of metropolitan rail transit.

Event Overview

  • Date: July 6, 2026

  • Venue: Beijing Jiaotong University

  • Co-organizers:

    • International Association for China Planning (IACP)

    • Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU)

    • Urban Rail Transit Journal

Logistics for Invited Participants and How to Apply

This event openly invites 30 participants from around the world.

  • Fees: Selected participants are not required to pay any conference or workshop fees. Travel and accommodation should be covered individually.

  • How to Apply: Please fill out the registration form (including personal details, academic background, CV, etc., in either Chinese or English) before May 31, 2026 (Beijing Time).

  • Notification: The conference committee will send invitation notifications to selected participants by June 15, 2026.

Conference Agenda

1. Keynote Speeches

  • Roger Vickerman (School of Economics, University of Kent / Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UK)

    • Topic: Planning, social dividend, interoperability and competition: lessons from European high-speed rail

  • Anthony David Perl (Simon Fraser University, Canada)

    • Topic: Grand Central Terminal: North America’s First and Foremost Railway Integrated Urban Development

  • Francesca Pagliara (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Italy)

    • Topic: From Transit Nodes to Livable Districts: Evaluating 15-Minute City Principles in HSR Station Areas

  • Kojiro Sho (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

    • Topic: How High-Speed Rail Reshape Regional Employment Geography in Japan? Evidence from 1981 to 2021

2. Special Events and Technical Visit

  • New Book Release: Chinese Railway Heritage: Value, Protection, and Regeneration, among others.

  • Technical Visit: Transport Equipment Museum of Beijing Jiaotong University (Science Popularization Base).

Call for Papers: Urban Rail Transit Special Issue

Aims and Scope

This special issue centers around sustainable development supported by railways and rail transit, focusing on critical issues in the transition from incremental expansion to stock optimization, and from engineering construction to comprehensive benefit enhancement.

We strongly encourage interdisciplinary research across fields such as transportation, urban and rural planning, regional economics, public policy, and regional/country studies. Key areas of focus include rail transit organization in city clusters and metropolitan areas, travel efficiency and social equity, rail-oriented life circles, cross-city commuting, and low-carbon travel.

This special issue welcomes theoretical and case studies worldwide, particularly those exploring different paths of rail transit construction, operation, and sustainable development in developed and developing countries, to discuss more sustainable paths forward.

Key Topics

  1. History and development of global rail transit;

  2. Rail interoperability and intercity travel in city clusters and metropolitan areas;

  3. Rail-driven low-carbon transformation and urban renewal;

  4. Regeneration and sustainable operation of railway station heritage;

  5. Rail economic belts and regional innovation;

  6. Management and spatial governance in the rail transit field.

Contact Us

IACP Communication Group