Can you tell us about your role on ScanMed RFC?

In my very recently acquired role as RAG-speaker, I try to draw the attention of the Corridor Management to those topics that we RUs feel are being important for operating on the Corridor. Many RUs – mainly the smaller ones – deserve to be more involved and integrated. For this reason, I try to start a dialogue with them to better understand their vision and aims. This is easier for me on that part of the Corridor I am more familiar with, which is the Southern part. I do believe that the RAGs could and should become more effective in their task to advise IMs and Ministries on the matters which do make a difference. Being personally active on different Corridors, I hope this could enable me in the future to transfer best practices between different realities in Europe fruitfully.

What are the biggest challenges on ScanMed RFC?

ScanMed is one of the longest RFCs. As such, it crosses regions with a wide variety of mentalities and working philosophies. Used right, this diverse environment means a considerable chance to generate enrichment for all of us. However, unfortunately, in the rail transport system, it ends up in a patchwork of different processes that create enormous hurdles for the development of our business. As railroaders are used to running on tracks, it is necessary to find a way to adopt the same processes and rules all over the European network. The Corridor organization has this task, and it is a particularly ambitious task for a corridor of 7.500 km length through 6 countries.

What are the next plans?

My overall headline is to invest in networking with all relevant stakeholders with a focus on increasing simplification, harmonization, and interoperability.

More in detail, after my short experience as RAG-speaker, I feel the targets set out below as the ones to be followed closer:

• Succeeding of the tail plate pilot in Italy and then the extension of its usage on the entire Corridor and further on the Italian rail network
• Further development and harmonization of timetable planning processes i.e., increase the quality of Corridor cross-border coordinated paths and the coordination of works, as well as implement the reform of international timetable processes (“Timetable redesign” or TTR)
• Expedited and increasingly RU-favorable harmonization of operational rules and TAF-TSI implementation along the Corridor (braking rules, Train Composition Message, ETCS deployment)
• The seamless border crossing at the Brenner as well as smooth and easy operations through the future Brenner Base Tunnel

Where do you want ScanMed RFC to be in 10 years?

As harsh as it might sound, but is very honest: in the long run – it may be much longer than ten years – I would like ScanMed RFC and all other RFCs not to exist anymore. However, don’t get me wrong. I mean it in the way that we really will have managed to realize an integrated and interoperable European rail network where rail freight transport has the highest thinkable degree of freedom to develop. This is my vision.