Crisis or Opportunity? Rail Leaders Warn Europe Must Act Now at 2025 European Railway Awards

The European Railway Award 2025 honored Enrico Letta, Dominique Riquet, and Josef Doppelbauer for their contributions to rail policy, infrastructure, and digitalization. The event called for urgent investment in rail to meet Europe’s transport and climate goals.

The European rail sector has issued a strong call to move from planning to execution as it gathered in Brussels last night for the 18th edition of the European Railway Award. Hosted at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the prestigious event—jointly organized by the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER)—brought together top EU officials, policymakers, and industry leaders to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the development of rail in Europe.

This year’s theme, A New Journey for Europe’s Rail: From Inspiration to Realisation, reflected the sector’s growing urgency to turn policy into progress and ensure rail delivers on its potential in tackling climate, connectivity, and economic challenges. Three figures were honored for their work in shaping the future of rail:

• Rail Champion Award – Enrico Letta, Former Prime Minister of Italy
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Dominique Riquet, Former Member of the European Parliament
• Accomplishment Award – Josef Doppelbauer, Former Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways

The event featured key speeches from leading EU officials, including European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Polish Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak, and MEP Dariusz Joński, all of whom spoke about the critical role of rail in achieving Europe’s transport, climate, and economic goals.

Enrico Letta: High-Speed Rail as a Unifying European Vision

The Rail Champion Award 2025 was presented to Enrico Letta, the former Prime Minister of Italy, for his tireless advocacy of high-speed rail as a pillar of European unity and economic growth. His influential Much More Than a Market report, published for the Council of the EU, outlined the necessity of connecting European capitals through an integrated high-speed rail network, a move widely seen as essential for achieving Europe’s Green and Digital Transitions.

Letta, reflecting on his findings, stated: "In my journey across Europe, I was astonished to find a continent so seamlessly united by its purposes and values, yet so physically divided by its underexploited railways. A high-speed rail network connecting all EU capitals would embody the very essence of building a stronger, more integrated, and greener Europe."

Dominique Riquet: A Lifetime of Advocacy for Rail Infrastructure

The Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Dominique Riquet, a former Member of the European Parliament who played a crucial role in shaping European transport policy. Over his 15-year tenure (2009-2024) in the European Parliament, he co-led the revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation, which paved the way for stronger, more interconnected rail systems across the EU.

Riquet has been a vocal advocate for long-term funding for rail projects, particularly through instruments like the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Accepting the award, he pointed out rail’s growing relevance: "The 19th century was that of coal and rail, the 20th that of oil and road, and the 21st marks the great return of rail. More sustainable, accessible, and safer—rail will define Europe's transport future. It is now up to the EU to accelerate harmonization, research, and interconnectivity."

Josef Doppelbauer: A Driving Force Behind Rail Safety and Digitalization

The Accomplishment Award was presented to Josef Doppelbauer, who served as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) from 2015 to 2024. Under his leadership, the ERA played a key role in advancing interoperability, safety regulations, and the implementation of the Fourth Railway Package.

Doppelbauer was instrumental in reducing national safety and technical rules that hinder cross-border rail operations, a major step in building a Single European Railway Area. He insisted on the need for continued progress, stating: "Looking back at the past decade, building a unified European railway system has only been possible through strong collaboration between the sector and EU institutions. To truly make rail the backbone of Europe’s multimodal transport network, this cooperation must not only continue but strengthen."

A Call for Action: From Policy to Execution

Throughout the evening, speakers and industry leaders underscored the urgent need for EU policymakers to shift from policy discussions to tangible infrastructure investment. They stressed the importance of:

• Sustained EU funding for rail through the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
• Full implementation of the revised TEN-T network
• Acceleration of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) rollout
• Support for cross-border projects to enhance rail connectivity

Andreas Matthä, CER Chair and CEO of ÖBB, made a direct appeal for funding: "To implement the full TEN-T network, a minimum of €100 billion in EU co-financing is essential. Without strong financial backing, Europe risks missing a historic opportunity to transform its rail system."

Similarly, European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas reaffirmed that rail remains central to the EU’s transport strategy: "As the EU enters a new era of policymaking, so does rail travel. My team and I are working on high-speed rail expansion, single ticketing, digitalization, and military mobility—ensuring rail plays a key role in Europe’s future."

Source: ERA; RAILTARGET