RNE engages with a variety of stakeholders to develop solutions for cross-border train services via joint projects, cooperations and consultations, benefitting the entire rail sector.
Under the provisions foreseen by the proposed Capacity Regulation, the circle of stakeholders will widen, as will the range of topics and tasks.
RNE is therefore currently focusing on widening and deepening its engagement with stakeholders.
These activities will be coordinated with all RNE business areas as a transversal function in order to establish a consistent approach to stakeholder relations.
Call for Applications:
Advisory Board for the Capacity Regulation (ABCR)
RailNetEurope establishes the Advisory Board for the Capacity Regulation (ABCR) and is launching a continuously open call for applications for membership and observer status.
The ABCR will serve as the central consultation platform for operational stakeholders, other than Infrastructure Managers (IMs), in the preparatory work related to the upcoming EU Regulation on the use of railway infrastructure.
However, it does not replace or duplicate the European Railway Platform to be established under Article 55a of the upcoming Rail Capacity Regulation.
Structured dialogue, transparency and expert input
As RNE prepares to take on the role of Network Coordinator, the ABCR will play a key part in ensuring structured dialogue, transparency, and expert input on:
- capacity management
- cross-border traffic coordination, disruption and crisis management
- performance review
and other areas regulated by the upcoming capacity regulation.
Role of the ABCR
The ABCR will
- Facilitate cooperation between RNE and operational stakeholders other than IMs
- Provide feedback on implementation steps and operational processes
- Offer a platform for escalation and discussion of critical issues
- Contribute to recommendations and consultation activities
- Enable structured exchanges on rail infrastructure performance
The ABCR will meet 2-4 times per year, with one annual in-person meeting hosted by RNE.
Relation between the ABCR and the European Railway Platform (ERP)
The ABCR is not meant to replace or duplicate the ERP. Instead, it complements ERP in two ways:
1. The establishment of the ERP will take some time while preparatory work on implementing the capacity regulation is well advanced. In this context, the ABCR is an interim platform to launch consultation activities by RailNetEurope as the future Network Coordinator at an early stage.
The ERP will be formally established following a positive assessment by the European Commission of a proposal presented by operational stakeholders. This establishment process can only be launched once the Rail Capacity Regulation has entered into force and will take some months to complete.
At the same time, infrastructure managers supported by RailNetEurope have made significant progress on preparatory work to implement the Rail Capacity Regulation. It is therefore useful to start consultation activities as soon as possible to give operational stakeholders the opportunity to provide their views, input and feedback at the earliest possible stage.
2. Membership in the ERP is limited to ‘operational stakeholders other than infrastructure managers’. The European Network of Infrastructure Managers and the Network Coordinator must therefore organise a structured engagement and dialogue with ERP in any case. The ABCR may provide a platform for such structured dialogue even after ERP’s establishment.
The Rail Capacity Regulation requires infrastructure managers, the European Network of Infrastructure Managers and the Network Coordinator to consult operational stakeholders on a broad range of issues within the scope of the Regulation. At the same time, the Regulation gives operational stakeholders the possibility to establish the ERP as a platform to discuss their views and to consolidate their positions. In this context, the consultation mechanism put in place by infrastructure managers and the Network Coordinator, on the one hand, and ERP as a platform for discussion and consolidation between operational stakeholders, on the other, are distinct but complementary.
A well-informed decision on whether the ABCR should continue to play a meaningful role as a consultation mechanism after the establishment of the ERP can only be made once the ERP’s structure and functioning are clearer. Such decision may either consist in adjusting the ABCR’s organisation to ensure optimal collaboration with the ERP or in discontinuing the ABCR and replacing it by other arrangements for engagement and dialogue with ERP.
Infrastructure managers and RailNetEurope as future Network Coordinator are committed to engaging with ERP’s members and organisers to co-develop an effective architecture for stakeholder consultation. To this end, they are open to reviewing and adjusting the organisation of the ABCR once further details about the ERP are known.
Who can apply to be part of the ABCR?
The ABCR will consist of members and observers.
RNE invites applications for membership from European and national associations representing operational stakeholders, other than IMs, as defined in Article 4(3) of the proposed regulation.
This means European and national associations representing applicants, railway undertakings, rail service facility operators, providers of rail-related services and any other entities directly involved in operating a rail transport service.
Only representative organisations are eligible. Applications from individual companies or private individuals cannot be considered.
Applications for observer status are open to:
- Representatives of regulatory bodies
- Representatives of Member State transport authorities
- Representatives of European Coordinators in charge of European Transport Corridors (TEN-T)
- Representatives of European and international public entities active in the field of railway transport, in particular DG MOVE, ERA, Europe’s Rail JU, OTIF
How to apply?
For detailed information on the activities, the composition, the scope of the ABCR and the application procedures, please refer to the Call for Application.
Applications must be submitted through the online Application Tool.
Each application must include:
- an Identification and Classification form duly filled in (applications for membership and observer status – section I in online form)
- an Eligibility criteria form duly filled in (applications for membership only – section II in online form)
- A cover letter outlining motivation and expected contribution (applications for membership only – to be sent via mail to abcr@rne.eu )
The call is continuously open.
To take part in the first evaluation round in February 2026, applications must be submitted by 31 January 2026 at 12:00 (noon).
Contact for Call for Applications ABCR: abcr@rne.eu
Contact
Head of Market & Performance
Reinhard Haller
E-Mail: reinhard.haller@rne.eu
Senior Stakeholder Manager
Camille Dachicourt
E-Mail: camille.dachicourt@rne.eu