The 5th UIC Global Rail Freight Conference, organised by UIC under the patronage of the Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and the Environment, and in cooperation with ProRail (NL), has become a worldwide reference for all stakeholders in the rail freight and logistics sector, and is officially supported by OTIF, UNECE and ITF, the International Transport Forum of the OECD.
Many European and international associations representing the transport and rail sector are partners in this 5th UIC Global Rail Freight Conference: BIC, CIT, CGU, UNIFE, UIP, ERFA, UIRR, Global Shippers Forum, CLECAT, Rail Forum, Rail Cargo Group.
This edition of GRFC will be held in Rotterdam and will run back-to-back with the TEN-T Days organised by the European Commission (20-21 June) and the European Rail Freight Corridor event (21 June) organised by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment under the Dutch Presidency of the EU.
The concept
Business professionals representing the entire transport chain will engage in a concrete discussion on the positioning of rail freight as a sustainable and competitive solution in a global world of increasing volumes of trade.
Through best practice examples and individual business cases, they will discuss the role of corridors as one of the tools with which to boost the efficiency and productivity of rail freight. They will also demonstrate with specific examples that rail is looking to the future in terms of new business models, new forms of cooperation and expertise development of its workforce. Innovation, automation and digitalisation are shaping the rail freight business. To support the business discussions, a small group of young professionals will follow the debates and will deliver their view of and for the industry during the conference closing session.
The Business Conference
The main theme of the 5th UIC GRFC: “Shaping Together the Business of the Future” The main conference topics will be addressed at a series of high-level panel discussions organised around the following themes and moderated by Paul Barrett (http://www.paulbarrett.fr), who has considerable experience in hosting and moderating high-level events with a global dimension.
“From Shanghai to Rotterdam: the landbridge concept 10 years on”
Key stakeholders in the transport chain will review the latest transport volume projections between Asia and Europe and will discuss opportunities for rail freight and innovative business models with the maritime sector and share best practices.
“Strategies to deliver opportunities and enhance effectiveness”
The transport industry is a very competitive sector and rail freight is facing many challenges. In order to secure a prominent position in the 21st century, rail freight has to tailor its approach to business accordingly, maybe revisit its business models, and forge partnerships. These concepts will foster lively debates between key stakeholders in the transport chain and the audience.
“Rail Freight 4.0: innovation and digitalisation for global solutions”
Being competitive in the rail freight business of the 21st century implies adapting processes and rolling stock to the era of digitalisation, innovation and automation. It also means ensuring their suitability to the operational requirements of the future. Automation also implies data generation, which in turn needs to be managed, filtered and protected.
“The workforce of the future: digital skills and human capital”
Adapting processes to the digital era requires the appropriate skills to be developed at the right time. Training is essential. New models also need to be developed. Young professionals will share their vision of / for the rail industry, which they will have formed through interviews with GRFC participants and speakers. They will then engage in a discussion with the audience and business professionals.
Speakers will include
- European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport (invited)
- Mark Frequin, Director-General Mobility, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment
- Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General, UIC
- Salman Babayev, Vice-President of Russian Railways (RZD)
- Pex Langenberg, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam in charge of Mobility
- Pierre Inga, CEO Prorail
- Emile Hoogsteden, Vice-President, Containers, Breakbulk & Logistics, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V.
- François Davenne, Secretary-General, OTIF
- Eva Molnar, Director of the Transport Division, UNECE
- José Viegas, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum, OECD
- Olivier Onidi, Director, DG MOVE, European Commission
- Fraenz Benoy, CEO CFLMM
- Hossein Ashoori, Vice President for the Operation and Movement of Iranian Railways (RAI)
- Hüseyin Teker, Freight Department, Turkish State Railways TCDD
- Oliver Sellnick, VP European Corridor Management, DB Netz
- Rodan Senekl, Presidium Member, Czech Logistics Association
- André Thiniéres, Managing Director, Objectif OFP
- Paweł Wojciechowski, European Coordinator of the Rhine-Alpine Core Network Corridor
- Ferdinand Schmidt, CEO, Rail Cargo Group RCG
- Baher El-Hifnaw, Senior Economist in the Transport Unit, World Bank
- Joris D’Inca, Partner at Oliver Wyman
- Robert van der Waal, Director Logistics Operations, Samsung
- Bernhard Kunz, Managing Director, Hupac
- Dirk Stahl, CEO BLS Cargo AG
- Fabrice Walewski, General Partner & CEO, Touax Group
- Miroslav Obrenovic, Head of Asset Strategy & Programs, DB Cargo
- Cédric Lévy-Bencheton, Expert in Network and Information Security, European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA)
- Peter Boom, Manager Business Development, RailWatch
- Harald Jony, Director of Energy Management, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG
- Esther Marconi, FS Italiane, Chair of the UIC Expertise Development Platform
- Thierry Vanelslaner, BNP Fortis & University of Antwerp
- Patrick Philipp, Head of IRU Academy
- An interview with Yves Tyrode, Chairman of the UIC Digital Platform, and Brogan Bambrogan, Hyperloop
- Thorsten Bomke, in charge of the Service Market Portfolio, Alstom
- Philippe Dume, Managing Director Services and Rolling Stock in Romania and Bulgaria at Alstom
To register for the 5th UIC Global Rail Freight Forum (GRFC) please visit the conference website: http://www.grfc2016.com
