Railtec at Illinois

05/20/2026

👏 Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsors 👏

RailTEC at Illinois extends our sincere appreciation to the Platinum Sponsors supporting the 2026 International Crosstie & Fastening System Symposium:
⭐ Koppers Inc.
⭐ Sicut Enterprises
⭐ Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company
⭐ Vossloh
⭐ Yuerui International

Your leadership and commitment to advancing railway infrastructure make this event possible. Through your partnership, we’re able to bring together industry experts and innovators to share knowledge, drive research, and strengthen the future of rail systems worldwide.

🚆 Join us and be part of the conversation—register today to secure your spot!

👉 https://crosstie.railtec.illinois.edu/

We are grateful for your continued support and collaboration.

05/13/2026

👏 Recognizing Our Valued Sponsors 👏

RailTEC at Illinois is proud to recognize and thank the sponsors supporting the 2026 International Crosstie & Fastening System Symposium:
🔹 Holland, L.P.
🔹 Lewis Bolt and Nut Company
🔹 Pandrol
🔹 Tracktec

Your support plays a vital role in bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and advance railway infrastructure performance. We truly appreciate your partnership and dedication to innovation in the rail sector.

🚆 Be part of this important conversation—register today and join us at the symposium!

👉 https://crosstie.railtec.illinois.edu/

05/06/2026

Join us at the 2026 International Crosstie & Fastening System Symposium!

RailTEC at Illinois is excited to invite industry professionals, researchers, and partners to register for the 2026 International Crosstie and Fastening System Symposium—a premier event focused on advancing track infrastructure performance, durability, and innovation.

Whether you're looking to deepen your technical knowledge, connect with peers, or stay ahead of evolving industry trends, this symposium is a must-attend.

👉 Register today and explore the preliminary program: https://crosstie.railtec.illinois.edu/

Thank you to our symposium partners Railway Tie Association and the National University Rail Center of Excellence!

02/24/2026

RailTEC welcomes Dr. Yuanchen Zeng to Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois! Dr. Zeng will be joining as Assistant Professor in summer 2026. He strengthens RailTEC by bringing expertise in rail vehicle-track interaction & modeling, advanced sensing systems, condition monitoring technology, data fusion, and predictive maintenance.

Learn more about Dr. Zeng: https://go.cee.illinois.edu/Zeng

02/04/2026

Join us Friday for the William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar "Smart Management of Railroads using Human-Machine Interfaces" by Fernando Moreu (The University of New Mexico).

Register at https://railtec.illinois.edu/events/hay-seminar/

01/13/2026

Calling for Abstracts for the 2026 International Crosstie and Fastening System Symposium! 📢

Submit your abstract by January 30th at https://crosstie.railtec.illinois.edu/call-for-abstracts/ to be considered in the 2026 Program.

10/31/2025

Listen to the latest American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Podcast: Platform Chats about the Sustainability & Resiliency Day and the 27th Railroad Environmental Conference hosted on the University of Illinois campus next month. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1715006/episodes/18063215

Then register today for discounted pricing for S&R Day and RREC!
https://rrec.railtec.illinois.edu/

This episode, our host chats with Christopher Barkan, PhD, Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Director of RailTEC, and Peter Masson, Director at TRC and Chair of Technical Committee 13 – Environmental about the upcoming R...

10/30/2025

Join us tomorrow for the William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar "Data-Based Track Maintenance & Planning at BNSF Railway" by Todd Kuhn (BNSF Railway).

Register at https://railtec.illinois.edu/events/hay-seminar/

10/07/2025

Congratulations Christopher P.L. Barkan, Professor and George Krambles Director of Railtec at Illinois in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is the 2025 recipient of the Robert E. Skinner, Jr. Distinguished Transportation Research Management Award. He is recognized for his nearly four decades-long career advancing research, safety, and operational capacity in the nation’s rail transportation industry.
https://ow.ly/zcpL50X3X7T

07/17/2025

Register today to earn 14 Professional Development Hours this summer by taking a specialized Virtual Railway Engineering Short Course in Track Engineering Fundamentals or Railroad Project Design.

All occupations and skill levels are welcome to a refresh on the fundamentals and an opportunity to gain new proficiency. Register now!

More details at https://shortcourse.railtec.illinois.edu/