Linda Thulin has been involved in the work of RNE since 2017 and joined the RNE Managing Board in May 2021 where she is the Vice President and responsible for developing European commercial conditions, the EU Commission’s passenger traffic pilots, Sales, Charges, the Language Program, and EIM Relations.
Her career is focused on international affairs related to the Single European Railway Area at the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket. Currently she also holds the position of President of Rail Freight Corridor ScanMed.
RNE: How does RNE contribute to European rail traffic, and what role do European regulations play in this process?
Linda Thulin: RNE is a crucial collaboration among Infrastructure Managers (IMs) in Europe that facilitates cross-border traffic and develops solutions for European rail transport. This collaboration addresses the needs of both freight and passenger traffic, as well as European, national, and regional services.
The collaboration aims to create a European Railway Area in accordance with the intentions of the Single European Railway Area (SERA) directive, and hopefully soon, the new regulation on the use of railway infrastructure capacity. The origin of this cooperation is the EU directive (2001/14/EC), which is included in the SERA directive 2012/34.
RNE: How do varying levels of commitment among Infrastructure Managers impact collaboration, and what are the key factors shaping this process?
Linda Thulin: The results achieved by us Infrastructure Managers depend significantly on our will and level of ambition, the resources and historical systems and standards available, the political orientation that can vary between countries, and how each country has structured its business models. The importance of harmonisation to facilitate cross-border transport and travel versus other national topics also plays a crucial role.
Therefore, I experience that the level of commitment from each Infrastructure Manager varies. It is important that we collectively find the right ways to cooperate and establish the possible level of ambition and joint realistic deployment plans.
We have come quite far in finding common ground and establishing the basis for commercial conditions, even though there is still a long and challenging road ahead. We are making incremental steps towards a future that, in the end, could make a significant difference. The commercial conditions, for example, are essential to ensure that the new capacity planning and allocation work as expected.
RNE: Linda, in your role at the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, can you explain the significance of cross-border traffic in Sweden and how it supports the wider European rail network?
Linda Thulin: In Sweden, approximately 30% of all traffic crosses a border to another country, encompassing both passenger and freight traffic. We have a substantial number of people commuting to and from Denmark and Norway, and with the new Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opening in 2029, travel to and from Germany is expected to also increase.
Sweden also has key industries for Europe, such as forestry, ore, steel, battery production, paper, hydrogen, automotive sectors etc. These raw materials and goods are integral to the production processes of companies in Europe and beyond. Additionally, Swedish companies rely on goods from other countries to sustain their production. We also enjoy food and wine from across Europe transported by rail.
Unfortunately, it is increasingly relevant to strengthen the conditions for transport due to military mobility needs.
For those reasons, cooperation to facilitate transport and travel in Europe is crucial. It is fundamentally about Europe’s future welfare and competitiveness.
RNE: You mentioned pressing issues, such as military mobility, driving the national efforts to strengthen transportation. What role does RNE play in ensuring Europe’s competitiveness and future welfare?
Linda Thulin: RNE, along with its members, develops European solutions that help us harmonise processes to create easy access to the railway and enhances its usability.
With the support of RNE, Infrastructure Managers develop prerequisites such as European processes, routines, business rules, IT tools, digitisation, and quality initiatives to transform a complicated patchwork into an easily accessible and attractive means of travelling and transporting goods.
RNE: Linda, if you could make a wish for RNE’s future, what would it be?
Linda Thulin: I hope that the Regulation on the use of capacity, which is currently under negotiation, provides a solid foundation for the cooperation between the Infrastructure Managers, enabling us to continue the ongoing developments carried out through RNE. This will help take the European railway to the next level, enabling Infrastructure Managers to better meet the future needs for travel and transport, whether these are related to military needs, general preparedness, or commercial requirements.