On July 10, 2025, the European research project MultiModX, funded by SESAR and the European Union, was featured at the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing, one of the world’s leading forums on high-speed rail development and innovation.
Representing the project, Luis Delgado, researcher at the University of Westminster, introduced a new set of open-source tools aimed at improving integration between rail and air travel. The centrepiece of the presentation was one of the three Solutions developed within MultiModX: the intermodal performance framework and train–air intermodal journey evaluators. These tools enable the assessment of potential trips which combine rail and air options, considering total door-to-door travel time, cost and the environmental impact.
Beyond its practical use for travellers, the tools also allow operators and planners to perform network-level assessments and real-time scenario simulations, testing the efficiency and resilience of multimodal systems.
The presentation took place during a week that gathered more than 2.000 participants from over 60 countries, including technical experts, government officials, transport operators, and industry leaders. Organised by the International Union of Railways (UIC) in collaboration with China State Railway Group, the UIC Congress is held every two to three years and provides a global platform for exchanging knowledge and promoting best practices in high-speed and sustainable rail systems.
With this contribution, MultiModX advances its mission to support better-informed travel decisions, promotes modal complementarity and modal shift to rail, where appropriate, and contributes to a more connected and sustainable European mobility network.
