Rail Forum Europe holds its latest event in the European Parliament on the resilience of European rail

Rail, and in particular the resilience of rail infrastructure, is of paramount importance to ensure the safety and continuity of transport in Europe, especially in these uncertain times.

Rail infrastructure must be able to withstand disruptions from many types of factors, ranging from extreme weather conditions, including those resulting from climate change (floods, rising temperatures, snowstorms), as well as those caused by external factors, for example the consequences of Covid-19 outbreak or Russian aggression in Ukraine. As the latter has shown, we are forced to adapt infrastructure to changing situations faster, including adaptation to the sudden change of transport routes and flows of goods and passengers. The safety and resilience of rail infrastructure, and thus ensuring the continuity of transport in Europe in crisis situations, is an important topic for discussion on the international forum. Sharing the experience acquired by PKP PLK S.A. in this field can be used as an input to the development of future assumptions and guidelines for protecting and ensuring resilient railway infrastructure in Europe.

The importance of resilience of rail infrastructure was discussed at the event organised by Rail Forum Europe in cooperation with Polish State Railways (PKP) in the European Parliament on 24 May. The event gathered key policymakers and stakeholders and speakers included MEP Bogdan Rzońca, Andrzej Bittel, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, PKP PLK CEO Ireneusz Merchel, Elzbieta Lukaniuk, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Vălean and Alberto Mazzola, the Executive Director, at the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER).

"The European rail system plays a key role in ensuring the stability and continuity of t  he logistic supply chain for the EU economy. Current circumstances and destabilising factors have occurred, but rail's effectiveness at mitigating their socio-economic effects, such as in response to the COVID pandemic,, showed that it is possible as part of transport, and in the context of Russia in Ukraine, to take a strategic role. This includes increasing aid to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the atrocities of war, as well as providing humanitarian aid to those who remained in the area of the conflict and Ukrainian transport"- said MEP Bogdan Rzonca.

"Railway is an important element of the country's transport system, ensuring stability in crisis situations. We found this out shortly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Cooperation between Polish railway companies and Ukrainian Railways turned out to be crucial for solving the refugee crisis. It was also extremely important for ensuring foreign trade between Ukraine and the European Union. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure stable financing of infrastructure of strategic importance at the EU level" – said Andrzej Bittel, Secretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure.

"The purpose of my visit to the European Parliament today is to promote rail as the most ecological and, at the same time, the most reliable means of transport in critical situations. It was the railway that became the mainstay of transport during the coronavirus pandemic, it was the railway that stood up to the challenge during the crisis caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

I am also here to present the successes of the Polish infrastructure manager in the modernisation of Polish railway infrastructure, building passenger confidence in the railway as a reliable, safe and modern means of transport. My task is also to present which regulatory environment as well as the functional and management structure is optimal for the infrastructure manager to fully develop the potential of the railway" – said Ireneusz Merchel, CEO of PKP PLK. "I am aware that the company faces many challenges, primarily in connection with increasing accessibility of rail transport. However, I am sure that with the support of the Polish government, as well as MEPs and all the friends of rail here in Brussels, and with the continuous promotion of railways as the most reliable and environmentally friendly means of transport, we will certainly achieve our goal" – add Mr Merchel.

"Thanks to railways, Europe is stronger. This was the case decades ago when Europe had to face oil price shocks as well as more recently during the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and again during the Covid-19 pandemic. It's also true now, when the Union is facing the social and economic consequences of the Russian aggression of Ukraine, including the energy crises. We hope this will be taken into account by EU policymakers when working on the many important transport, energy and budgetary dossiers that will keep us busy until the end of the legislature" – said Alberto Mazzola, CER Executive Director

Railways have been riding the wave of resilience lately as they raised to the challenge of various crises, past and ongoing. They were crucial in helping transport people to safety at the beginning of Russia's aggression in Ukraine and currently as an essential link in the Solidarity Lanes – ensuring the flow of goods in and out of Ukraine. We look to further improve their resilience through the upcoming legislation that covers rail capacity management, technical specifications for interoperability and train drivers certification. We are also supporting a study under the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking program to look into climate change related risks and technologies to mitigate them. – said Elzbieta Lukaniuk, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Vălean

"Strengthening the resilience of the railways is very important for the entire railway system in the European Union. The war in Ukraine showed that the railway plays a very important role in peacetime as well as in wartime. As Europeans, we must be prepared for such challenges." – said MEP Bogusław Liberadzki

About Rail Forum Europe
Founded by Members of the European Parliament from across the parliamentary committees, Rail Forum Europe is an international non-profit making association that aims at bringing together EU decision-makers and the rail sector to achieve a better understanding of rail-related issues.

www.rail-forum.eu

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