photo: UNIFE/Enno Wiebe
Europe’s rail supply industry is at a crossroads. In an interview with RAILTARGET, UNIFE Director General Enno Wiebe says competitiveness, procurement reform, and digital rollout will determine whether Europe remains a global leader.
As the European rail supply industry is navigating 2026, what do you see as the most critical priorities for manufacturers and technology providers?
It is clear that for us as manufacturers and technology providers, the number one priority is they need to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
The European rail supply industry is world market leader, but with a range of different factors which are affecting European manufacturing more broadly, as pressure is continuing to grow on operating models.
That pressure has the very real potential to reach a critical point in as little as a few years, as certain global competitors continue to operate on an unfair playing field against European rail supply businesses.
These global competitors are mostly based in countries which, unlike Europe, have extremely exploitative social and wage models. On top of this, pricing from some companies based in non-EU countries are completely reliant on gaining geopolitical favours, as opposed to offering a product for a set or fixed cost. There is no way you can fairly compete with this.
The European rail supply industry is working hard to turn this pressure into something positive and to use it as motivation to keep improving, innovating and becoming stronger.
To support our ambitions with a sound framework, we are calling for serious changes to the Public Procurement directive and considerations around Made in Europe policies at EU level. European rail supply businesses should compete on a level playing field, and changes in these areas can make it so.
How do you assess the current level of political and financial support for rail at EU level, and what changes would UNIFE like to see in the next policy cycle?
With satisfaction I note rail’s improved position in the draft EU Budget last year, which was more than the one before it. However, with the multitude of European Commission-led initiatives which the rail sector is now tasked with, such as ERTMS rollout targets as part of the TEN-T network, Military Mobility, and EU High-Speed Rail Plan, investment will need to be secured and even to increase further.
However, the EU financial framework still needs to be finalised, and this is where the Member States come into play, as they must assume their responsibility for a future proof railway system and its sufficient funding.
We support these initiatives fully, however the investment must be there to deliver. We need to ensure stable and ongoing financing for years to come. We say this for two key reasons: one, because companies now need to prepare themselves and have assurances around orders and delivery.
Secondly, we need to position the rail supply industry to create its own momentum. Funding other key elements such as research and innovation through a successor to Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, means developing technologies which ensure the industry remains a global leader in technological solutions.
Digitalisation remains a key theme, from ERTMS to DAC and FRMCS. Which technologies do you believe will be decisive for Europe’s rail competitiveness in the coming years?
The rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), with ETCS (signalling) and GSM-R migrating to FRMCS (radio communication) is a major priority for the industry. To drive the rollout forward in a stringent and cost-effective manner, robust specifications must be developed and agreed collectively and kept stable at their core over a reasonable longer period of time. We need to move away from individual and fragmenting developments and advance a sustainable industrialisation of ERTMS.
To ensure that railway signalling remains reliable and building in further resilience, there is much to explore regarding utilising satellite technology. The Clug 2.0 EU research project explored these horizons over the last few years, but we hope that any successor to Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking considers the potential in taking this technology and its use-cases much further.
We need to continue to prioritise digital technologies and coordinate their rollout in a concerted manner regarding budget and migration capabilities. However, we know that there are a range capabilities that AI and predictive modelling technologies can unlock, as the industry better harnesses the use and power of digital twins.
With growing pressure to meet sustainability and climate targets, how is the rail supply industry positioning itself in terms of decarbonisation and long-term industrial resilience?
We need to focus on getting more people and goods on to trains, and respectively passenger additionally on trams and metros across the continent from whatever else they are using, whether it be planes or cars. We are the only mode of transportation that can help Europe meet its transport emissions reduction targets.
In order to achieve this, we need a level-playing field between transport modes (e.g. taxation), investment, harmonisation of standards across Europe and to consider what other regulatory burdens prevent the rail supply industry from further expanding capacity.
By addressing these issues, alongside challenges regarding trade, the industry will be in not only good shape, but continue to be one of Europe’s prime industrial assets.
In Europe, we must treat our railways as a strategic priority and demonstrate a clear political will to advance the system decisively. Half-hearted efforts will not move us forward; on the contrary, they risk holding us back and allowing other modes of transport to outpace us.
Which major industry events, initiatives, or milestones in 2025–2026 should stakeholders pay particular attention to from UNIFE’s perspective?
Looking ahead, 2026 is one of the most pivotal years for the rail supply industry. However, if we want to succeed, we must collaborate, not work in parallel, and certainly not against one another. This is easier said than done, and for me, it remains both the greatest challenge and my strongest motivation.
Our focus is on ensuring that updated Public Procurement directives from the European Commission can deliver not just a level playing field, but a secure rail system without high-risk suppliers. Rail is central to not just EU supply chains, but now key to military mobility, which means we must be serious about cybersecurity and remaining in control of our rail networks.
We also hope we can continue to further strengthen rail’s position in the EU budgetary process for 2028-2034.
We will work closely with the European Union Agency for Railways and other sector stakeholders to streamline authority tasks, particularly in vehicle authorisation, where significant potential has been identified to simplify processes. This will help accelerate the rollout of rolling stock and ERTMS across Europe.
Further to that, this year we hope to have confirmation of a successor to Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking. This program is so vital to keeping the European rail supply industry competitive in global markets.
Event wise, it is an InnoTrans year, and we at UNIFE have been planning carefully our offering and display, especially as we launch the new edition of the World Rail Market Study in an electronic format with extended features and content. It is such an inspiring atmosphere, which gives everyone an opportunity to both celebrate rail and learn from each other. Myself and the team are really looking forward to it!