The International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA), in partnership with the Norwegian company, Bane NOR and the Swedish Trafikverket, will be hosting its International Heavy haul Association STS Conference, on 10th to 14th June 2019, in Narvik, Norway.
The conference will include presentations of technical papers in research and development areas such as Rolling Stock, Railway Infrastructure and Operations, a technical Workshop to be held two days prior to the conference where international railway technical experts will present selected topics within the Infrastructure and Rolling Stock fields. Technical Tours for delegates involving site visits to LKAB’s shipping facility in Narvik and Bane NOR’s Heavy Haul line between Narvik and the Swedish border – and Social Tours for delegates and partners to visit tourist attractions in Narvik and its surroundings.
The theme of the 2019 STS Conference
The theme of the 2019 STS Conference is “Heavy haul 4.0 – Achieving Breakthrough Performance Levels”. This theme presents a perfect opportunity for the heavy haul community around the world to share solutions and successes that advances and transforms railway operations performance in the digital area. The theme will encourage delegates to present papers on breakthrough solutions that will strengthen the heavy haul competitive edge with specific focus on reducing the logistic costs, improve operations efficiency, provide new railway capacity cost-effectively and improve safety. The scope of solutions presented will also cover operations in extreme weather conditions.
The programme will include presentations of technical papers on research and improvement areas such as Vehicle track Systems, Track, Bridges and Tunnels, Operations, Rolling Stock, Motive Power, Traction and Energy Efficiency and Human factors.
The first IHHA Conference was held in Perth, Australia 18th – 22nd September 1978 – the final in Cape Town, South Africa, 2nd – 6th September 2017. Then theme was “Advancing Heavy Haul Technologies in a Changing World”
