The future of Canadian mobility: CUTRIC Annual Rail Innovation Conference

On July 8, 2026, the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) hosted its Fifth Annual Rail Innovation Conference. As a non-profit innovation consortium, CUTRIC brings together public transit agencies, private industry innovators and academic researchers to advance zero-emission technologies and smart mobility solutions across Canada.

Hosted by Hitachi Rail—with support from Transport Canada, Hatch, HDR and Dentons Canada LLP—the event convened transit executives, cybersecurity experts and clean-tech leaders to address critical infrastructure challenges in Canada’s rail sector.

Executive vision for the future of public rail

The conference opened with keynote addresses from Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Metrolinx, and Rick Leary, General Manager of OC Transpo. Following the keynotes, Dr. Josipa Petrunic, president and CEO of CUTRIC, moderated an Executive Fireside Chat. The discussion focused on the operational realities of expanding light rail transit (LRT) systems while securing digital networks against cyber threats. Leaders emphasized that modern regional transit serves a dual purpose as vital civil infrastructure and a national defence asset.

Defending digital sovereignty: transit as a national defense asset

A primary focus of the conference centered on cybersecurity and digital sovereignty. The “Hackable Mobility” panel included experts from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Hitachi Rail, the University of Calgary and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Panelists addressed the vulnerabilities of automated transit systems to cyberattacks, highlighting the immediate need for unified national cybersecurity standards and domestic workforce development. The afternoon session featured a panel titled “Should Passenger Rail be Part of the Defence Network?” Experts from Cysca Technologies, TransitSentinel and Transport Action Canada discussed integrating rail networks into national defence planning. The session highlighted CUTRIC’s ongoing work to bridge gaps among information technology, operational technology and engineering through the Canadian Cybersecurity Innovation Initiative in Rail and Transit (CCIIRT).

Accelerating high-speed rail and zero emissions propulsion

The conference also explored physical infrastructure advancements. With planning underway for Canada’s high-speed rail corridor between Montreal and Ottawa, CUTRIC assembled a panel of experts from Alto, Hatch and McGill University. The panel examined the design, electrification and socio-political factors involved in delivering the initial phases of this national project.

The event concluded with a technical look at rail decarbonization. The “Retrofitting the Rails” panel evaluated the engineering requirements for converting legacy diesel locomotives to hydrogen propulsion. Featuring insights from Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) hydrogen locomotive project in Alberta, speakers from the Canadian Hydrogen Association, Charbone Hydrogen Corporation and the University of Toronto outlined the supply chain developments and engineering roadmaps required to commercialize zero-emission rail across North America.

Featured image: (L to R) Ray Little, eMobility Specialist, Siemens Mobility Canada; Michael Lindsay, president and CEO, Metrolinx; Josipa Petrunic, president and CEO of CUTRIC; and Gregory Percy, vice president, Infrastructure Solution, Siemens Mobility Canada. (CUTRIC)