https://events.uic.org/2nd-toprail-forum
TopRail, the UIC working group focused on rail’s tourism potential, held its first meeting of the year once more in Madrid, hosted by the Spanish Railway Foundation. The meeting was attended by railway representatives from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The European and the Worldwide Federations of Tourist Trains, Fedecrail and Wattrain, were also represented in accordance with the MoU signed two years ago.
It was decided by members to hold this meeting in Madrid, given that the 39th International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) was taking place at the time, and this gave the members the possibility to take part in the event.
The workshop was opened by Cesar Lopez, General Manager of the Spanish Railway Foundation, and it was steered by Mr Carles Cases (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain), Chairman of the TopRail group who took the opportunity to present the new Manager of Renfe Tourist Trains.
During the meeting information about the members’ new projects were revealed and discussed, as well as new activities to be performed during the next year with a special focus on the opportunities of continuing the group and its activities.
Regarding the tasks to be accomplished in 2019, during the next months the group will focus on two main projects:
- The project GIRAT (Guidelines on how to Increase Rail Attractiveness for Tourism)
- The organisation of the Second TopRail Forum kindly hosted by Fundazione FS at the National Railway Museum in Pietrarsa (Naples) on 16 and 17 May 2019
The meeting ended with a visit to the Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) with the aim of getting a glimpse into the state-of-the-art in the world of tourism trade, that was holding one of its most important events of the year during that period in Madrid.
If you are interested in discovering the potential of the railway tourism business and wish to meet the main players in the sector, the TopRail members encourage you to take part in the Second TopRail Forum to be held in Naples on 16 May 2019, with a very special visit to the archaeological site of Pompeii on 17 May 2019.
Please find further information and registration online at https://events.uic.org/2nd-toprail-forum
