The second plenary meeting of the Advisory Board for the Capacity Regulation (ABCR) took place on 30 June 2026 and brought together RailNetEurope experts and representatives from Railway Undertakings (RUs) and other operational stakeholders to review progress on the implementation of the Regulation 2026/1184 on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area.

The meeting confirmed the value of a structured dialogue and early feedback on issues that will shape the future of rail operations in Europe

Structured dialogue with operational stakeholders

The ABCR is a platform  for the engagement and coordination with operational stakeholders other than infrastructure managers, in relation to work for the implementation of the capacity regulation. The second plenary meeting continued the dialogue started on 13 March 2026 during the first ABCR plenary, with a stronger focus on interaction and practical feedback 

Key topics discussed during the plenary session

The meeting addressed a broad spectrum of topics relevant for the participants of ABCR, including:

• An update on the establishment of the European Railway Platform (ERP) by Forum Train Europe (FTE). 
• Progress on the European Framework for Capacity Management (EFCM) and related implementation work.
• Preparation of the European Framework for Traffic Management and outlook on the development of the Language Programme.
• Consultation processes and upcoming stakeholder engagement activities.
• Key operational topics such as temporary capacity restrictions (TCRs), commercial conditions and performance review.
• News Digital capacity management and its coordination with applicants.

“We have received feedback from more than 20 organisations, with more than 200 comments. The comments we received provide an added value to further improve the European Framework for Capacity Management.”

Ádám Kertai (Team Leader Capacity Process Management) when addressing the feedback received from sector stakeholders on the EFCM

Supporting a more coordinated European rail network

The meeting highlighted that legal and regulatory compliance are not sufficient to make the implementation of the Capacity Regulation a success.  Ultimately, only workable processes for a more coordinated European rail system will enable the rail sector to meet the needs and expectations of passengers and freight customers. This includes better alignment between national and European processes, more transparent consultation between stakeholders and stronger digital support for railway planning and operations.

Follow-up and next steps

The next phase will focus on refining framework content, launching more stakeholder engagement activities and continuing technical and governance work on implementation. The concrete follow-up includes the first legally required consultations in autumn 2026, further stakeholder engagement on selected topics and continued work on digital capacity management. The exchange confirmed that sustained dialogue across the sector remains essential as Europe moves closer to implementing the new European railway regulations. The dialogue will be further strengthened by the European Railway Platform in the future.