GRFC 2016, the 5th UIC Global Rail Freight Conference will bring together all Rail Freight and Global Logistics stakeholders on 22 – 23 June in Rotterdam

The 5th UIC Global Rail Freight Conference, “GRFC 2016”, is organised by UIC under the patronage of the Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and the Environment, and in cooperation with ProRail (NL). It 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, GCU, IHHA, 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 European Union.

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.

Under the heading ‘Shaping together the business of the future’, the Global Rail Freight Conference will review the challenges facing rail freight at global and European level through 4 thematic sessions:

“From Shanghai to Rotterdam: the landbridge concept 10 years on”
“Strategies to deliver opportunities and enhance effectiveness”
“Rail Freight 4.0: innovation and digitalization for global solutions”
“The workforce of the future: digital skills and human capital”

“From Shanghai to Rotterdam: the land bridge concept 10 years on”

Opportunities for Rail Freight between Europe and Asia

Almost half a million TEU or standard containers could already be transported on the railways between Europe and Asia. How is rail positioning itself in that market? How can the corridor concept boost business initiatives? Come and engage in discussions with high level panellists from the entire transport chain at UIC’s Global Rail Freight Conference in Rotterdam on 22&23 June.

Long-term (2030), rail transport between Asia and Europe is forecasted to reach a level of around 950,000 TEU p.a. This includes traffic from East Asia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan to the EU in both directions. Traffic from South Asia could add another 150,000 TEU in the long-term.

On Eurasian developments, find out about:

Rail’s potential as a unique component of the transport chain for transcontinental traffic
Market opportunities
Innovative digital solutions to ensure transport integrity
European rail freight corridors as support for transcontinental developments
Legal breakthroughs
And much more

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.

Already today, rail could hypothetically achieve a potential of 480,000 TEU p.a. if requirements were already fulfilled.

“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:

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
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