Mirosław Kanclerz was appointed as a member of the RNE Managing Board (MB) during the RNE General Assembly in Paris in 2009.
He already had over twenty years of experience in various positions in PKP PLK S.A.
In his role as an RNE MB member, Mirosław has been responsible for various activities: Legal Affairs, Traffic Management, and for the last several terms for Network Statement (NS) and Corridor Information Documents (CID).
RNE: Mirosław, which business area are you responsible for in PKP PLK S.A.?
Mirosław Kanclerz: I have held various leadership roles within PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. (PKP PLK S.A.), spanning Sales, International Cooperation, Timetables, Traffic Management, and Strategy.
Since 2009, I have been a member of the RNE Managing Board, where I played an instrumental role in driving the development of legal frameworks, enhancing network statement efficiency, and optimising traffic management processes.
Currently, as the sole board member representing Central and Eastern European RNE members, I bridge regional perspectives while contributing to RNE’s strategic direction.
RNE: How do you see the development of RNE?
Mirosław Kanclerz:
RNE has evolved significantly over the past two decades, growing from a small team into a key player in shaping European rail policy. Our contributions to the Freight Regulation and Capacity Regulation underscore RNE’s pioneering role.
Reflecting on RNE’s development over the past twenty years, I can see what a long way the organisation has come from a few people working in a small RNE office in a tenement building at Annagasse 10 to the current RNE team of several dozen people in a modern office at Jakov-Lind-Strasse 5.
Let this example be a confirmation of the fact that RNE is constantly developing, expanding its portfolio and creating added value for Infrastructure Managers (IMs) and the entire railway sector in Europe.
RNE was and is a pioneer of change and it is on the basis of the concepts developed by the members of the Association that the EU has developed two legal acts which have a significant impact on the functioning of the rail sector in Europe: The Freight Regulation and the Capacity Regulation (currently being processed).
Regarding the Freight Regulation, the corridor-based RNE concept has been transformed into the freight corridors of the RFC.
The Capacity Regulation, in turn, is largely a consequence of the TTR project launched by RNE.
RNE: Do you envisage any challenges between your RNE responsibilities and your tasks for your national Infrastructure Manager?
Mirosław Kanclerz: Balancing RNE responsibilities with national interests can be challenging. However, I believe that a European perspective is essential for long-term success off all IMs. By promoting common solutions and aligning national strategies with RNE’s goals, we can optimise the rail network for all stakeholders.
In my role with PKP PLK S.A., one crucial aspect is convincing my colleagues of the benefits of adopting a European perspective. At times, this means prioritising common international solutions in legal or operational matters over favouring national interests.
RNE: Are there any anecdotes from your years with RNE you would like to share with us?
Mirosław Kanclerz: I can say that working for RNE has given me the opportunity to meet many interesting people. Working together, apart from the challenges and stress, also meant casual conversations that allowed me to build personal relationships. There were, of course, interesting situations that I may talk about one day, but these will be the memories of a retiree.
RNE: Mirosław, if you could make a wish for RNE’s future – what would it be?
Mirosław Kanclerz: RNE is entering a transformative period due to the requirements of the Capacity Regulation, which will bring significant changes to its organisational structure, management, and remit.
I would like to see RNE take a proactive role in developing innovative solutions to address the sector’s most pressing challenges.
My wish for RNE is that it to successfully navigates these challenges and continues its legacy of success.
RNE: When do you think fully digitalised Network Statements will be available?
Mirosław Kanclerz: “Digital” in this context can mean various things, such as an online IT tool where all Network Statements (NS) content from all IMs/ABs is accessible. The RNE Network and Corridor Information Portal (NCI) already provides this, despite some challenges due to different production methods and sources.
A future where all NS are published directly on a single platform is conceivable, necessitating further harmonisation of content and formats. We might even see integration with databases like the Register of Infrastructure (RINF).
Technically, these advancements could be fully implemented within two years, but they require higher-level agreement (likely from ENIM) and approval from all Member States. Only after such decisions can we start the implementation timeline.
RNE: How do you think the frameworks mentioned in the Capacity Regulation will be linked to the Network Statements?
Mirosław Kanclerz: The Capacity Regulation Frameworks are expected to serve as the primary guidelines for the production of NS by each IM/AB.
The level of detail and binding nature of these frameworks will dictate the NS production process. These frameworks should furthermore explicitly reference the NS whenever they include business rules relevant to the IM/AB domain.
RNE: How could a European-wide bindingness of the Network Statements be achieved?
Mirosław Kanclerz: This will be more of a political decision involving regulators.
However, if this decision is taken, the harmonisation requirements will become much more demanding. This will mean that full comparability should be achieved by adopting the same NS chapter structure at all levels of detail and making the content consistent in all national documents.