CER ACTIVITY REPORT 2019

FOREWORD

CRISTER
FRITZSON

CER Chair (until January 2020)

CRISTER
FRITZSON

CER Chair

Foreword

LIBOR
LOCHMAN

CER Executive Director

There is a deep sense of pride among the rail community as we see the technology we operate every day being the most effective answer to the challenges global mobility is facing at present.

Beyond policymakers’ inner circles, an ever wider cohort of citizens is vocally requesting that efficient mobility solutions be provided at reasonable prices while respecting the highest standards in terms of safety and sustainability. Commuters need to be able to travel quickly between regional peripheries and urban hubs. Long-distance travellers must be allowed to hop between city centres. Goods should reach transcontinental destinations on the most safe and secure means of transport available on the market.

As a result, every day more customers – both individual travellers and logistics operators - start to actively choose rail over other modes of transport.

Is this a recognition of railways’ readiness to provide quality mobility solutions? Yes, to some extent – but not only. More than that, we take it as a call on railways to continue improving.

To respond to this call, railways are investing in modernising their infrastructure, rolling stock and service delivery. In particular, railways are embracing the digital revolution and its consequences in terms of technological transition: booking systems, sales services, ticket distribution systems, traffic information but also train driving, rolling stock, infrastructure assets and traffic management will all be heavily impacted. The entire rail system will be radically transformed, the way we do business, the way we accompany our passengers and the way we take care of the goods we transport every step of the way throughout their journeys. A seamless cooperation with other modes of transport will be one of the many positive spill-overs of this revolution.

Safety, sustainability, quality: three words that describe what we have to offer to EU policymakers, and for which we ask their support. Three words that are a somewhat brief description of the solution that is at hand, and yet still needs to be treated fairly, respected, promoted.

Now write down this date (we certainly did): by June 2020, the full implementation of the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package will ensure that remaining administrative barriers are significantly reduced, and open the door for a Single European Rail Area to become reality. We look forward to fully exploiting this wonderful opportunity by delivering exactly what we promised: safety, sustainability and quality. We are sure EU legislators will be our allies in this endeavour.

Better railways bring our Union closer: let this be our most sincere wish for the work of this brand-new legislature.