Meeting location: Palazzo NonFinito, Florence / Hybrid
Via del Proconsolo, 12
Duration: 3.5 hours
Date & Time: 16 June 2026 09:00-12:30
Languages: English and Italian.
Simultaneous interpretation between English and Italian will be provided throughout the workshop.
Introduction
This dissemination conference, organised within the framework of the Tour&Rail initiative, will explore how rail services can deliver significant economic, social, and environmental value in Europe’s rural areas with high tourism attractiveness, despite relatively low passenger volumes.
Bringing together policymakers, researchers, regional authorities, transport operators and infrastructure managers, the event will highlight the role of rail in supporting sustainable tourism, territorial cohesion, accessibility, and local development in rural regions.
The morning programme will include keynote presentations, insights from the Tour&Rail project, and interactive exchanges with stakeholders from across Europe. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on good practices, policy implications, and future strategies to strengthen the contribution of rail services to rural vitality.
Set in the historic setting of Palazzo Nonfinito in Florence, the event will foster dialogue and collaboration towards a more inclusive and value-driven vision of Europe’s railway system.
Objectives
- Present the objectives, methodology and preliminary insights of the Tour&Rail initiative;
- Showcase concrete European case studies illustrating the role of railways in supporting rural vitality and tourism attractiveness;
- Foster dialogue among policymakers, researchers, railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and regional authorities on the future of rural rail services;
- Exchange good practices and experiences related to governance, multimodal integration, tourism development and public value creation;
- Contribute to the debate on how railway policies can better integrate environmental sustainability, social inclusion and territorial resilience objectives;
- Strengthen cooperation between transport and tourism stakeholders at European, national and regional levels.
Target Audience
The conference is addressed to a broad range of stakeholders involved in railway transport, regional development and sustainable tourism, including:
- European, national and regional policymakers;
- Railway operators and infrastructure managers;
- Regional and local authorities;
- Tourism boards and destination management organisations;
- Researchers and academic experts in transport, mobility and regional development;
- Public transport authorities and mobility planners;
- Representatives from European institutions and international organisations;
- Professionals and practitioners working on sustainable tourism and territorial cohesion initiatives.
- The event is particularly relevant for stakeholders interested in the future of rural mobility, sustainable tourism strategies and the socio-economic value of rail services in low-density territories.
Expected Outcomes
- Increased awareness of the wider economic, social and environmental benefits generated by regional rail services in rural areas;
- Dissemination of the Tour&Rail project’s approach and findings among European stakeholders;
- Identification of good practices and transferable experiences from the Douro and Aulla–Lucca railway lines;
- Enhanced dialogue and networking between railway, tourism and regional development actors;
- Policy recommendations and strategic reflections on the future of rural rail services in Europe;
- Greater recognition of railways as enablers of sustainable tourism, accessibility and territorial cohesion;
- Opportunities for future collaboration between academic institutions, transport operators, public authorities and tourism stakeholders.
Webinar Structure
Low Traffic, High Value: Activating the Potential of Rail Services in Europe’s Rural Areas
09:00 – 09:15 Welcome
Enrico Meli, Full Professor Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence
Vanessa Pérez Miranda, Senior Advisor, UIC, International Railway Association
09:15 – 09:45 Shaping the Future of Rural Railways in Europe: Understanding Value Beyond Passenger Numbers
Opening of the conference and presentation of the Tour&Rail Initiative
Speakers:
- Ana Berrocal, Associate Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
- Yassine Khelladi, Transport Advisor, International Railway Association, UIC
09:45 – 10:30 The Douro Line: Railways as Drivers of Heritage, Tourism and Regional Revitalisation
Presentation of Douro Line case from the point of view of the operator (CP) and the Tourism stakeholders (Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal). Discussion on how historic and scenic railway lines can contribute to territorial cohesion, tourism diversification and local economic development in low-density regions based on the Douro Line experience.
Speakers:
- Dr. Luís Pedro Martins, Sr. Presidente do Turismo do Porto e Norte,
- CP Representative
Moderator: Vanessa Pérez Miranda, Senior Advisor, International Association of Railways, UIC
10:30 – 11:15 The Aulla–Lucca Line: Accessibility, Local Communities and Sustainable Tourism Models
Presentation of the Aulla-Lucca line case. Exchange of experiences on the role of regional rail services in improving accessibility, strengthening local identities and supporting more sustainable tourism dynamics in the Toscana countryside from the point of view of regional authorities, infrastructure manager (RFI) and operator (Trenitalia).
Speakers:
- Laura Castellani, Head of the Transport Department of the Tuscany Region
- Cristina Bruno, Toscana Direction, Regional Operations Division, Trenitalia
- Angela D’Eboli, Head of Railway Operations and Timetable Planning – Florence Area, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Moderator: Andrea Rindi, Full Professor Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence
11:15 – 12:15 Round Table — Shaping the Future of Rural Railways in Europe: Understanding Value Beyond Passenger Numbers
Strategic debate on the future of railway services in rural areas in Europe, addressing governance, public value, multimodal integration, climate objectives and long-term territorial resilience.
- Federica Follesa, Head of Regional Contract Management, Regional Operations Division, Trenitalia
- Carles Casas, Director of Strategic Planning & ESG at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
- Ana Berrocal, Ana Berrocal, Associate Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Moderator: Nacima Baron, professor for transport and mobility policies at the Gustave Eiffel University of Paris
12:15 – 12:30 Conclusions and Closing Remarks
Register here
EU Project Consortium
European Union