European rail infrastructure CEOs from the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the association of European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) gathered in Naples on 23 November for their annual high-level meeting. They reaffirmed their goal to providing the necessary infrastructure and capacity required to reach Europe’s climate and transport goals. For this they are urging policy makers to put the required framework conditions in place.

Discussion focused on the current revision of the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T), which, once finalised, must provide the infrastructural basis required for the successful implementation of the European Green Deal and its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy goals. CEOs concluded that the timely implementation of the TEN-T network is of utmost importance, but was very much dependent on the amount of funding and the framework conditions in place.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss modal shift. The participants identified and discussed certain measures needed on capacity management and European Traffic Management, such as a quick implementation of Timetable and Capacity Redesign (TTR) and Digital Capacity Management (DCM), as well as the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). In this context, a surgical and quick review of the rules regulating timetabling, making them more flexible and atuned to the market is required. The CEOs concluded that the implementation of TTR, DCM and ERTMS is an important step towards more capacity for rail. However, the sector relies on the speedy finalisation and implementation of the legal framework currently developed by the European Commission.

The rail infrastructure CEOs also discussed, along with the impact of the current energy crisis on infrastructure managers’ sustainability goals, how the concept of sustainability is integrated at their companies into daily business strategies. Infrastructure managers agreed that a common approach on certain aspects of sustainability might be useful to boost the contribution of the rail sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This year’s High-Level Infrastructure Meeting (HLIM) took place in Naples on 23 November 2022 at the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa on the invitation of the Italian rail infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI). Jointly organised by CER and EIM, this annual meeting between the heads of rail infrastructure companies provides a platform for the exchange of information and experiences, with a view to finding common solutions to support rail traffic in Europe.

CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola said: “The Green Deal requires a fundamental shift of traffic to rail that can be accommodated only with a dramatic increase in rail capacity and infrastructure. Such an increase can be achieved through political commitment at national and European level to an accelerated ERTMS deployment and TTR implementation, as well as to the construction of new rail lines for passenger and freight traffic.”

EIM’s Executive Director Monika Heiming said: “Rail infrastructure managers are essential to reach EU’s geostrategic, green and digital objectives. The focus on cross-border rail through different initiatives such as the TEN-T, ERTMS and TTR / DCM is essential to make rail a highly competitive mode of transport. To that end, the 2022 HLIM provides an excellent occasion to exchange on the measures needed. Only together can be move forward.”