The first of two web-conferences entitled “Covid-19 Latin American Rail Networks Impacts & Adaptations”, jointly organised with the UIC Latin American Region, the UIC Covid-19 Task Force Group and ALAF (Latin American Railway Association) was held on 22 June 2020.
Attended online by around 100 participants from Europe, Asia and South America, the event was organised into two panels:
Panel 1 focusing on the Asian and European experience;
Panel 2 providing an overview of the reality in different countries in the Latin American Region.
Each panel was followed by a Q&A session, moderated by Marc Guigon, Director of the UIC Passenger Department and Coordinator of the UIC Latin American Region, and Vanessa Pérez Miranda, UIC Senior Passenger Advisor.
Welcome and introductory messages were delivered by François Davenne, UIC Director General, Guilherme Quintella, Chairman of the UIC Latin American Region and José Villafañe, General Secretary of ALAF. The main messages focused on the importance of holding webinars such as this in order to give the floor to member railways, and the work of the UIC Task Force to share best practice and highlight the solidarity and cooperation within the railway community.
Marc Guigon, as Chair of the UIC Covid-19 Task Force, gave an update of the group’s work, including the many ways in which the rail sector has demonstrated resilience throughout the crisis, the five guidance documents released so far as well as future publications.
The first conference panel focused on “Specificities of European and Asian Networks: What challenges for what decisions? Measures taken by some rail networks.
Presentations were delivered by representatives from JR East (Paris Office) and Trainose (Greece) which addressed rail’s response to the pandemic including measures, new initiatives, resumption of activity and restoring customer confidence.
The second panel focused on “The case of Latin American Networks: Facing “Covid-19” – Management system development.
Presentations were delivered by representatives from Latin American railways, transport and logistics companies, as well as organisations such as ALAF and the UN.
Topics covered the impact of the pandemic on railway operations, measures taken, protocols, relations and coordination with authorities, communication campaigns and the role of transport to improve connectivity in South America.
The second web-conference will be held on 6 July 2020.
