The rail sector continues to evolve, driven by the dedication of its many committed professionals.

Since 2022, the RNE Award has been our way of recognising outstanding individuals within the RNE community, honouring their exceptional commitment and achievements.

This year, two outstanding women, Saskia Meynhardt and Simona Garbuglia, were honoured for their exceptional contributions to the field of Traffic Management.

The RNE Awards were presented during the General Assembly by Vice Presidents Stefano Castro and Linda Thulin.

Saskia Meynhardt: Honouring Innovation and International Collaboration

Saskia Meynhardt received the RNE Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution in Traffic Management, presented by RNE Vice President Stefano Castro.

In his laudation, Stefano highlighted Saskia’s significant influence on the European Traffic Management Network (ETMN) project and her forward-thinking approach to traffic management.

“I personally had the opportunity to work closely with her when the ETMN project started and progressively took shape. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and ability to propose innovative yet sustainable approaches were highly appreciated by the entire team.” said Stefano.

Stefano emphasised Saskia’s international mindset and dedication to improving the operational efficiency and reliability of cross-border rail traffic. Her innovative concepts were transformed into harmonised rules and procedures were instrumental for cross-border traffic management, laying the groundwork for the future European framework in this area.

Stefano concluded, while presenting Saskia with the award:

”Your commitment to innovation, excellent managerial skills, and progress inspire us all. […] Thank you for everything you have done to improve European railways and support international rail traffic management.”

In her speech, Saskia expressed her gratitude for receiving the RNE Award. “RNE is a network and collaboration.”, she noted, before thanking RNE for the honour. Saskia shared an anecdote about Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. She described hours of online meetings with people she had never met in person. Despite this, the team remained committed to achieving a meaningful outcome—not merely producing a document to be filed away but creating a comprehensive handbook that would be actively used. Saskia emphasised that their success was driven by dedication and a collaborative approach.

Simona Garbuglia: An Expert in Overcoming Language Barriers in Rail Operations

Simona Garbuglia was honoured with the RNE Award for Outstanding Individual Contributions, which was presented by RNE Vice President Linda Thulin.

Linda’s laudation underscored Simona’s remarkable work in overcoming language barriers within European rail operations, particularly through her leadership in the Translate4Rail initiative. The Italian-Austrian cross-border pilot, which aimed to overcome language barriers between signallers and drivers. The project’s success in developing and testing a railway language tool and predefined messages marked a ground-breaking milestone in the industry, setting new standards for multilingual railway operations. Simona’s analytical skills and commitment to safety were highlighted as key factors in her success. Her ability to facilitate communication between multilingual teams and bring together bilingual experts set new benchmarks for managing language barriers across Europe.

“Simona’s leadership in the Translate4Rail project demonstrated the feasibility of a railway language tool, bringing efficiency and safety to multilingual operations. […] Her deep understanding of railway processes and ability to lead teams effectively ensured that the solutions were not only innovative but also practical and widely accepted.” Linda noted.”

Linda concluded by commending Simona’s strategic mindset, attention to safety, and meticulous preparation, saying, “Simona’s ability to solve complex challenges makes her a truly deserving recipient of the RNE Award.”

Simona thanked RNE for the honour, emphasising that her success was not an individual achievement, but the result of teamwork. “Overcoming language barriers is a collective effort,” she stated.

She spoke about the challenges of harmonising and digitalising communication between signallers and drivers, and expressed her gratitude to all partners for their expertise and support throughout the project.

Simona concluded by highlighting that the future of rail transport depends on the ability to facilitate digital communication between signallers and drivers, but expressed confidence that the industry is heading in the right direction.

A Future Shaped by Innovation and Collaboration

The RNE Awards 2024 were a powerful reminder of the transformative role that individual contributions can have in shaping the future of European rail transport.

Saskia Meynhardt and Simona Garbuglia’s accomplishments highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and dedication in overcoming the challenges facing the rail sector today.

Their work serves as an inspiration to all in the RNE community, demonstrating the impact that thoughtful leadership and teamwork can have on the future of cross-border rail operations.

As RailNetEurope continues to drive progress in the industry, the legacy of these two remarkable women will remain an integral part of the organisation’s continued success in fostering safer, more efficient, and sustainable rail transport across Europe.