photo: fantovabudova.cz/Fanta Hall, Prague; illustrative photo
Prague will become the centre of European railway diplomacy at the end of March as top industry leaders gather in the historic Fanta Hall. The CEO Summit 2026 will tackle critical issues ranging from ETCS deployment to the strategic role of rail in Europe’s military mobility.
Day One: ETCS, Standards and Strategic Financing
The high-level CEO Summit 2026 opens on 30 March in the representative premises of Fanta Hall at Prague Main Station. Following initial networking and a meeting of the Management Committee of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, discussions will turn to one of the most pressing challenges in European rail: the implementation of ETCS across the continent.
The debate will focus on harmonising European standards, securing stable long-term financing and overcoming technological barriers that continue to affect operational efficiency. Ensuring technical stability and safety across European corridors remains central to the agenda.
An exclusive roundtable moderated by Alberto Mazzola will bring together senior sector leaders, including the Director General of Správa železnic (Czech Railway Administration), Oana Gherghinescu of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), Kristian Schmidt from European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), and Matthias Ruete.
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Day Two: Rail in a New Era and Military Mobility
The second day will begin with a meeting of the Executive Board of the International Union of Railways (UIC), followed by the main strategic panel under the 'The Role of Rail in a New Era' theme.
Key topics shaping Europe’s future mobility model will dominate the discussion:
- Military mobility, ensuring fast and reliable transport capacity for European defence needs.
- High-speed rail development, strengthening regional competitiveness and connectivity.
- Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs), focusing on long-term infrastructure resilience and rolling stock quality.
Among the featured speakers will be the Director General of Správa železnic and Professor Ondřej Přibyl from the Czech Technical University in Prague. The summit will conclude with a joint declaration focusing on the sector’s strategic direction for the coming years.
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Prague as a Strategic European Rail Hub
The choice of Fantova Hall as the venue highlights the growing strategic importance of the Czech Republic within the European railway landscape. The Prague summit is a platform for defining concrete steps toward a safer, interoperable and geopolitically resilient European rail system.
At a time of increasing security pressures and infrastructure modernisation challenges, the CEO Summit 2026 positions rail not only as a sustainable transport mode, but as a pillar of continental stability and defence readiness.