Communication Note from Ludolf Kerkeling -- Existing studies and information sources on rail high education and skills development -- Rail sector expectation and requirements for higher education and students' expectations from rail companies in Slovakia and Czech Republic -- Current gaps and mismatches between rail higher education provision and industry expectations -- A Reflection on Higher Education and Rethinking Teaching Practices and Approaches for Rail -- Deployment of Autonomous Trains in Rail Transportation: Addressing the Needs for Higher Education and Leadership.

This book offers a timely collection of chapters on innovative research and education-focused developments in the vast field of rail transport, including rail operations, management, economics, and sustainable infrastructure. Adding on the tradition of the previous four volumes, here a special emphasis is given on the current needs for rail skills development, innovating rail higher education provision, and solutions aimed at bridging the gap between railway education and industry expectations. Strategies for making the rail sector more attractive to early careers and younger generations, and methods to identify and retain talents in the railway sector are also described. Gathering peer-reviewed contributions prepared by the RailUniNet and AstonRail strategic partnership members, this book offers a timely view on current developments on rail-focused teaching and learning methods and approaches with extensive information for both academics and professionals specialising in railway research, technologies, training and education.