“Voices for the Future Partnership”: CEOs of Europe’s Rail private members reaffirm their commitment to future rail partnership
Europe’s Rail leaders are speaking with one voice: the Joint Undertaking public-private partnership has proven to be a successful model, turning ambition into concrete solutions and advancing EU policy objectives while boosting industrial competitiveness.
In a video series, CEOs from the EU-Rail private members highlight the value of the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking and reaffirm their support and commitment to its future.
In the first joint video of the series, 11 leaders from 10 organisations across the sector emphasise how the Joint Undertaking plays a crucial role for developing and deploying innovative technologies in the European market and beyond.
All the videos from the first part of the series are now released, and you can watch individual support messages from:
• Javier Martínez Ojinaga – CEO of CAF, shares a powerful message on why Europe must accelerate collaboration to stay competitive in the global rail market, and emphasised the sector’s readiness to co-invest in the future Joint Undertaking.
• Iñaki Díaz Garmendia – CEO of CEIT, emphasises the innovations developed through the partnership with EU-Rail, including self-driving trains, secure data platforms, and satellite-based safe localisation, as well as the use of AI for maintenance and intelligent repair.
• Luis Jiménez Redondo – CEO of CEMOSA, states the joint undertaking allows to bring innovation into real world deployment, helping Europe rail industry to remain a global leader in railway innovation and a benchmark for excellence.
• Miguel Cruz – CEO of Infraestruturas de Portugal, affirms continue investing in rail innovation is a strategic necessity for Europe’s economic resilience, industrial leadership and climate objectives – therefore he supports a successor initiative focus on bridging the gap between research and market development.
• Michael Jeske & Richard Neussl – Managing Directors of Kontron Transportation, highlight how EU-Rail Joint Undertaking provides a structured environment for railways sector to develop shared visions on digital communication systems and translate innovations into tangible results.
• Andreas Matthä - CEO of OBB-Holding AG, underlines how issues such as capacity availability, resilience of the system, and lack of interoperability are potential risks for the sector which require a focused, stronger and unified European action.
• Tjark de Vries - CEO of Strukton Rail Nederland, shares his perspective on how the EU-Rail partnership is accelerating innovation across Europe’s rail sector, highlighting the need to act together as Europeans for transforming how we build and maintain rail infrastructure with robotisation and digitalisation.
• Rafael Sterling – Managing Director of Talgo affirms a Europe-wide harmonised approach is crucial to managing the complex innovation transition needed to future-proof the sector, while avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring interoperability through a coordinated research and innovation initiative.