The conference was organised be the “MTR Corporation Limited”, the metro company of Hong Kong. Key note speakers in the opening ceremony were the MTR Chief Executive Officer and representatives from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.
Around 100 participants from 22 countries took part in this world-wide railway safety event. Peter Gerhardt, Head of Safety Unit, represented the UIC HQ.

The IRSC provides a forum for an in-depth exchange of experience and lessons in the field of railway safety. Participants are representatives from rail undertakings, infrastructure managers, safety regulators, railway accident investigation agencies, rail unions, equipment manufactures.

The banner theme for the IRSC 2010 was “Challenges in Sustaining Railway Safety”.
Presentations and discussion were submitted to the following 3 core themes:

• Process: Managing Railway Accidents
• Human Factors: Global Perspective for Managing Human Performance
• System Design: Keep Railway Developments on the Right Track

Speakers were from 10 countries and the European Railway Agency.

George Lee, the MTR General Manager Safety & Quality and Chairman of the IRSC Organizing Committee in Hong Kong highlighted in the final session the added value of this Conference in the process of learning with the objective to the further improvement of safety in the world railway community.

The technical visits provide the participants a chance to see Hong Kong’s safety achievements in different railway systems.

The UIC is also member of the IRSC Core Group which meets every year during the conference. It confirms that the 21th IRSC will take place on the
16–21 October 2011 in Melbourne, Australia.