“Infrastructure Managers are preparing to appoint RailNetEurope as the Network Coordinator.” – This was one of the key messages of the PRIME Plenary on 28 November 2024. 

This statement marks a significant milestone in strengthening cooperation between Infrastructure Mangers (IMs) across Europe to ensure the optimum effective use of available capacity. 

This goal, outlined in the draft Capacity Regulation, will be achieved through the “European Network of Infrastructure Managers” (ENIM) and the support of a “Network Coordinator”. 

The Platform of Rail Infrastructure Managers in Europe (PRIME) has now officially proposed RailNetEurope for this role. 

Key messages at the PRIME Plenary 

In regard to the proposed role of RNE as the Network Coordinators, several key messages emerged:  

The statement of Infrastructure Managers and Allocation Bodies in PRIME on effective implementation of the proposed Rail Capacity Regulation 

IMs are preparing to appoint RNE as the Network Coordinator. 

This is based on the fact that IMs have been cooperating since 2004 in RNE to define common processes for Capacity, Traffic and Performance Management, and to develop and operate international IT systems supporting these processes.  

RNE is set up as an association with 38 members covering most of Europe. 

The IMs in RNE agreed in the RNE General Assembly in December 2023 on projects to prepare the entity for the expected designation as Network Coordinator, including the support function to the European network of Infrastructure Mangers (ENIM). 

This recent statement represents an important clarification and provides impetus for RNE’s activities, paving the way for the seamless assumption of responsibilities and ensuring smooth cooperation among IMs. 

Statements from PRIME Representatives 

Alfred Pitnik and Linda Thulin are leading the preparatory work on the future organisation of Capacity Regulation within PRIME. 

They presented different approaches for structuring the organisation. 

Their work builds on PRIME’s official proposal for RNE to become the Network Coordinator and focuses on how this organisational setup will be implemented. 

RNEs contributions to the PRIME Plenary

Elisabeth Hochhold, Head of Legal, HR and Sales at RNE, is coordinating all preparatory processes for RNE’s potential role as Network Coordinator.  

In her presentation, she emphasised the importance of close links between PRIME and RNE, as both organisations prepare updated organisational set-ups and decision-making processes to implement the new governance structure proposed in the Capacity Regulation. 

Harald Reisinger, Chief Information and Chief Financial Officer at RNE, presented on the PRIME Digital Subgroup.  

His speech outlined how digital requirements for effective cooperation can be met. He showcased the pathway to creating a European digital roadmap for rail Infrastructure Managers and demonstrated how this supports the implementation of the Capacity Regulation. This approach also paves the way for a European, flexible, and digital railway system. 

Next steps at RNE

The positive feedback from the PRIME Plenary inspires RNE to intensify its efforts to address the challenges ahead in 2025: 

• Preparing European frameworks for capacity management and traffic management 

• Aligning RNE’s organisational set-up and decision-making processes with the new governance framework, ensuring close links between ENIM and Network coordinator 

• Expanding know-how and expertise to perform new activities as envisaged in the draft regulation 

_{Photo credit cover image: (c) ÖBB, Kurt Prinz}