The role of the Global Passenger Forum is to focus on the main priorities in the passenger field, using a very practical and “systemic” approach. Ultimately it is oriented towards the service provided to customers/passengers. The future of mobility is through the railways, not only due to the climate crisis, that will drastically reduce emissions but also because mass transit, if well organised, will free our city’s public space from congestion and pollution. As a matter of fact, railways are in competition with the automotive industry to promote a better vision of mobility.

The Global passenger forum will be the forum, where the CEO of the passenger activities will provide UIC with an ambitious drive for this vision to come into being.

One of the key issues of the creation of the Global Passenger Forum is to develop synergies among the sectors of the PGF in order to avoid duplication and bring more value to the topics.

The synergies will be established:

• Among different sectors (Distribution, Railway Stations, High-Speed rail, Tourism opportunities, Commuter and regional train Services, accessibility, door-to-door service, customer experience)
• With the other platforms (UIC Freight Forum, Rail System Forum), Environment Energy and Sustainability, Safety, Security, Talent and Expertise Development,
  Research Innovation and Coordination, Standardisation, Finance, Digital Platform
• With other organisations (UITP, IATA, OSJD, EUAR and CER)

During the day’s meeting, the participants analysed the situation of Passenger Activities in the world and proposed strategic actions for the years to come.

Furthermore, the strategic vision of the Passenger Global Forum shall focus on:

• Multimodality
• Mobility as a service
• Sustainability
• Multiregional projects
• Digitalisation
• Cooperation with universities

A welcome and opening speech delivered by Manel Villalante i Llauradó, Director General of Development and Strategy of Renfe, Chairman of the Global Passenger Forum (GPF), as well as by François Davenne, Director General of UIC and Marc Guigon, UIC Passenger Director.

Presentations by the following guest speakers included:
HUO Baoshi (CR), chair of the Intercity and High-Speed Committee (ICHSC)
Bartłomiej Buczek (PKP/ SKM), chair of the Commuter and Regional Train Services (CRTS)
Roberta Rizzo (Trenitalia), chair of the Passenger Services Group (PSG)
Carlos Ventura (ADIF), chair of the Station Managers Global Group (SMGG)
Carles Casas (FGC), chair of the Tourism Opportunities (Toprail)