The 8th edition of the UIC Training on Commuter and Regional Train Services (CRTS) was successfully held from 29 to 31 October 2025 at the UIC Headquarters in Paris. Organised by the UIC Passenger Department, the event brought together over 60 participants from around the world to explore how regional and commuter rail services can better meet the needs of both leisure travellers and commuters, two distinct user profiles sharing the same trains.
The workshop was moderated by Vanessa Pérez Miranda, Senior Advisor at the UIC Passenger Department, and opened by Federica Follesa, Chair of UIC CRTS. The first day began with a focus on regulatory frameworks and market transformation. Mike Goggin from Steer gave a presentation on the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), a new integrated body aiming to simplify the UK rail system and improve the customer experience. Jan Vávra, International Rail Transport Committee (CIT), followed with an overview of key EU legal initiatives, including the revision of the Rail Passenger Rights Regulation (PRR), the Multimodal Passenger Rights Regulation (MM PRR), and the Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation (SDBTR), all designed to enhance passenger protection and data access.
Andrea Giuricin, TRA Consulting, and Gabriele Giustiniani, UNeed.it, discussed Public Service Obligation (PSO) models and liberalisation. Giuricin compared gross and net cost contracts, while Giustiniani detailed case studies from Italy, Germany, and Denmark, showing how contract design impacts service quality.
Operational challenges were also addressed. Joan Cantero, Catalan Government Railways (FGC), shared digital transformation projects to improve intermodality and customer service in the region of Catalunya, with Moctar Ba, Senegal Railways, then presented the strategic roadmap for modernising Senegal’s bimodal network.
In the afternoon, safety and security were the session’s focus. Francisco Cabrera, UIC, shared lessons learned from the April 2025 Iberian blackout, which disrupted 1,900 trains and affected over 80,000 passengers. Next, Grigore Havarneanu, UIC, emphasised how design, technology, and human presence can improve perceived and actual safety, especially for vulnerable groups. Follesa, Trenitalia, discussed PSO contracts and commercial strategies, which was followed by Carlos Romero, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, detailing customer experience measurements using the EN 13816 framework. Luc Favre, National Railways of France (SNCF) Voyageurs, concluded the day with innovations in TER services, including digital booking and capacity management.
The second day featured a hands-on session led by the EELISA_HEAR Community, using design thinking to improve the RER B experience in Paris, with a focus on accessibility, information, and intermodality. Ying Cen Tee, Hitachi Rail, gave a presentation on innovation in rolling stock design, including level boarding, flexible interiors, and infotainment systems. Sunna Jónsdóttir Marchant, Danish State Railways (DSB), shared DSB’s Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM) strategy for its new IC5 and EC fleets, highlighting predictive maintenance and digital integration.
Pérez Miranda then explored how rail can support sustainable tourism while adapting to evolving leisure travel trends. Joaquín Botella, Sener, underscored the principle of rail as the backbone of a multimodal mobility system based on customer-centric approach. Delphine Comolet, SNCF, shared insights from managing the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Yassine Khelladi, Laboratoire Ville Mobilite Transport (LVMT) – Université Gustave Eiffel, gave a presentation on French use cases of rail tourist with strong regional value.
The final day focused on adapting services and infrastructure to meet the needs of both commuters and leisure travellers. Alberto Chiulli, McKinsey & Company, opened the session with a presentation on balancing expectations and tailoring services to different user profiles and future trends. Reiko Sasaki, Paris Office of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), presented the Mashup Probe System (JEMAPS) digital twin platform, which integrates real-time data on train operations, passenger flow, weather, and disaster alerts. Leonardo Cesarini, Trenord, showcased the “Gite in Treno” programme in Lombardy, which bundles train tickets with tourist experiences. At the end of this section, Fabrice Morenon, SNCF Hubs & Connexions, discussed the transformation of stations into multifunctional hubs supporting an environmentally friendly transition and regional cohesion.
The final session focused on digital and multimodal ticketing. To begin, Magnus Just Hansen, DSB, presented Denmark’s check-in solution via the DSB app, which recorded over 11 million trips and 460,000 users in 2025. Shunying Ding, UIC & China Academy of Railway Sciences, then introduced China Railway’s e-ticketing ecosystem, which supports over 10,000 daily trains and 800 million users.
Bertrand Minary, UIC Director of the Passenger and Freight Departments, concluded with a presentation on UIC’s commitment to interoperable ticketing aligned with European standards such as the European Standard for Public Transport Reference Data Model (Transmodel), General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), and Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM). Tools like the Multiple East-West Railways Integrated Timetable Storage (MERITS), OSDM, Real Time Mobility Data Exchange (RTMDE), and Persons with Reduced Mobility Assistance Booking Tool (PRM ABT) are already being deployed to support seamless, inclusive, and scalable mobility.
The training concluded with a certificate ceremony and closing remarks by Follesa and Pérez Miranda. The participants mentioned enjoying the range of topics, the quality of the presentations, and the opportunity for conversations with peers from different countries and backgrounds.
UIC warmly thanks Hitachi Rail and McKinsey & Company for their valuable contributions and support throughout the CRTS Training 2025.
Once again, the CRTS Training provided an effective platform for learning, sharing, and building international connections in the field of regional and commuter rail. The next edition will be from 28 to 30 October 2026. Stay tuned for more information.
