5th High Level Freight Meeting
26/27 February 2008, Sofitel Hotel, Brussels

AGENDA
26 February 2008

18.30-19.00 Arrival of participants & welcome drink

19.00-19.30 Rail freight in Europe: priorities of the new EU Presidency in 2008.

• Key note speech by Mr. Boris Živec, Secretary in Railways and Cableways Directorate in the Ministry of Transport of Slovenia

19.30-20.30 Discussion with representatives of EU institutions and rail freight CEOs

20.30 Dinner

27 February 2008

09.00 – 09.15 Welcome & opening remarks by meeting chairman, Ferdinand SCHMIDT (RCA)

09.15 - 10.00 Infrastructure charging and investments: the road to railway success?

• Introduced by: Nicolas PERRIN, CEO of SBB Cargo (assisted by Jacques DIRAND, Freight Adviser, CER)
  
  Issue: Will the Swiss model of road tolls financing rail infrastructure be applied in the rest of Europe? In the EU, the debate is now open on revising the legislation on infrastructure charging (Eurovignette). How can this be connected with the plans of the railway sector on setting up a Primary European Rail Freight Network.
  
  

10.00 - 10.30 Rail freight quality: the weakest link?

• Introduced by: Karl MOHNSEN, CEO of TX Logistik (assisted by Jacques DIRAND, Freight Policy Adviser, CER)
  
  Issue: The European Commission is about to produce a report on the developments in rail freight quality. CER has just completed its own report on quality as an input into the Commission’s report. In the meantime, the Consulting Company, Booz Allen Hamilton is launching a Europe-wide survey of rail freight customers’ satisfaction. What can we do to change public perception and avoid harmful legislation?
  
  

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 - 11.45 Mega-trucks: a mega-risk for the railways?

• Introduced by: Christoph WOLFF, Internationales und Netzmanagement, Railion Deutschland (assisted by Denise KWANTES, Freight Policy Adviser, CER)
  
  Issue: There is an increased interest in reviewing the possibility of allowing longer & heavier trucks on the roads. The Commission is currently conducting a study on the possible effects of a European-wide introduction of such trucks and several Member States are carrying out tests. Studies show that mega-trucks could have negative effects on rail freight market share. What can we do to limit these effects?
  
  

11.45 - 12.30 Develop Single Wagonload in Europe (X-Rail) ?

• Introduced by: Sören BELIN, CEO of GreenCargo (assisted by Oliver SELLNICK, Director Railway Undertakings, UIC)
  
  Issue: Six railways have developed the concept of a European single wagonload product and are preparing a pilot phase starting April. Based on the results they will prepare a first limited integrated European SWL network and form an alliance for this market segment. What has been achieved so far and what still lies ahead?

12.30 – 13.45 LUNCH

13.45 - 14.30 E-RailFreight / E-Customs: the next IT challenge for the European Railways?

• Introduced by: Wessel SIJL, Chairman CER Customs Group and Rainer WILKE, Chairman Raildata)
  
  Issue: On 1 July 2009 the so-called security amendments to the Customs Code will come into effect. This means that RUs will have to deliver pre-arrival/pre-departure data for all customs transports, 2 hours before entering or leaving the EU territory  electronically or 4 hours in advance when paper-based. At the same the electronic consignment note is developed by UIC. Are the railways prepared enough for this?
  
  

14.30 - 15.00 TAF TSI: Update and next steps

• Introduced by: Jan SUNDLING, SEDP Chairman
  
  Issue: Railways being interested in becoming the founding members of the Common Components development project need to decide until end of April. A Stakeholder Agreement outlining terms and conditions will be circulated shortly.
  
  

15.00 – 15:45 ERTMS: Update

• Introduced by: Karel VINCK, ERTMS Coordinator, Klaus JUNKER, Coordinator for ERTMS Corridor A and Luc VANSTEENKISTE, Coordinator for ERTMS Corridor C (tbc)
  
  

15.45 – 16.15 Coffee break

16.15 – 16:45 More and better capacity for Combined Transport (DIOMIS)

• Introduced by: Albert COUNET, CEO of Railion Deutschland (assisted by Oliver SELLNICK, Director Railway Undertakings, UIC)
  
  Issue: Searching for ways how to smoothen the capacity shortage for combined rail-road traffic, this UIC project has developed an “Agnda 2015 for the Combined Traffic in Europe”, being a call for action covering production methods with a better capacity efficiency, co-ordinated planning for terminal development. 
  
  

16.45 - 17.30 Rail Freight Map

• Introduced by: Ferdinand SCHMIDT, CEO of Rail Cargo Austria 
  
  Issue: In past meetings, Freight CEOs have expressed the need to obtain a “road map” for the main initiatives potentially affecting their activity (ERTMS, TAF TSI, X-Rail, DIOMIS, E-Railfreight & E-customs, Noise, etc). The aim is to monitor and bring transparency on these issues relevant to their business.
  
  

17.30–17.45 Concluding remarks