|
Great Success of RAIL FORUM in Valencia. Outcome.
Once more, Rail Forum has proved to be a success due to your contribution and the experience which it gained in previous editions.
A large number of professionals from the most important railway companies, institutions and public administrations participated in this event. The exhibition area in Rail Forum occupied 9,000 m² and comprised 93 stands and 107 exhibitors. More than 2,000 people visited the exhibition. During the congress, 148 conferences and workshops took place and were attended by 850 people from 20 different countries such as: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, India, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, United States and Venezuela.
Furthermore, Rail Forum was widely broadcasted through the media: press, radio and TV.
Rail Forum has helped bring to light the main concerns of this sector. The main conclusions of the fifth edition of Rail Forum are as follows:
- Metro and local rail must be promoted in large European cities in order to improve mobility. Two types of action are needed for this: investment in building new commuter, metro and light-rail lines and rebuild existing ones.
- Europe must continue to invest in new High Speed lines which connect city centres to each other and also connect to airports. They must comply with the general standards of interoperability.
- Governments must create a freight railway network and the appropriate connections to ports and logistic areas with the appropriate facilities, thus allowing them to be competitive and to recuperate the share in the market that was lost to road transport. As a result, traffic congestion, road accidents and pollution will be reduced.
- Unified standards and clear European legislation of minimum requirements to authorise the operation of railways lines must be urgently created. The European Commission must urge Governments to fulfil their obligation to give high priority to and invest in interoperability, construction of new lines and interconnections of national lines. Liberalisation of both freight and passenger traffic must also be taken into account in order to promote the European rail network as a whole.
We have received many congratulations from visitors for the organisation of this event which, once again, has become a meeting point, discussion forum and a centre for business development within the rail sector. Nevertheless, we know that the general quality of the conferences and high level of professionals and visitors are the key point for the success of the event.
This would not have been possible without your help.
Next year Rail Forum will take place in Madrid. Around 4,000 experts and professionals of the rail sector will be present at the Exhibitions Institute of Madrid (IFEMA) in the 6th International Rail Forum, 11th - 13th November 2008. More than 40 companies have already confirmed their attendance. If your company wishes to be present, you can contact us.
|
