This workshop, which will take place at the Benelux Secretariat-General in Brussels, is a cooperation between the expertise centre ITEM (of Maastricht University) and the Benelux Union. The main topic of the day is how to make cross-border train travel more consumer friendly.
The workshop will first take a look at the (border) obstacles for international train travel, and identify the main ones (session 1). We will hear experiences from different actors in the field, such as from the ‘new entrants’ and from DG REGIO. We will also hear the views of the national transportation ministries on tackling cross-border obstacles.
After the break we will take a deep-dive regarding ticketing and take a closer look at existing best practices in this domain. (session 2). This will be followed by a wide plenary discussion on how to tackle some of the obstacles identified under session 1 and obstacles concerning ticketing from session 2. The discussion will also focus on the way forward and we will try to identify what potential role the Benelux Union and ITEM could play in solving those identified cross-border-obstacles.
The programme will be followed by a networking lunch.
| PROGRAMME |
| 09.30 | Doors open – registration |
| 10.00 | Introduction by Prof. Dr. Anouk BOLLEN, director of ITEM and Jan MOLEMA, director at the Benelux Union Introduction of ITEM by Martin UNFRIED (moderator) and Pim MERTENS |
| 10.15 | Session 1: Improving international and cross-border train travel – _obstacles and initiatives – Mr. Arthur KAMMINGA of ALLRAIL, The Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants – Ms. Marlies PEETERS of the European Commission (DG REGIO): Obstacles to attractive cross-border rail services – recent studies and experiences – Short presentation of the respective national railway strategies of the national ministries of transportation For the Netherlands: Ms. Anouk DE REEDER For Belgium: Mr. Frederik DE RIDDER |
| 11.15 | Coffee-break |
| 11.30 | Session 2: Ticketing: Best practice for cross-border train travel and how to move forward? – Continuation of the presentation of national railway strategies: Mr. Georges GIL for the Luxembourg Ministry of Transportation, with a focus on the effects of free public transport in Luxemburg – Best practice of public transport ticketing: Mr. Dominik ELSMANN of the EasyConnect Project Consortium: Digital ticketing system across the border on the ‘three-country-train’ (collaboration NL-BE-NRW): innovation with EasyConnect |
| 12.15 | Plenary discussion on the current initiatives, challenges and the way forward and the possible roles for the Benelux Union and ITEM |
| 12.45 | Closing remarks by Prof. Dr. Anouk BOLLEN, director of ITEM and Frans WEEKERS, Secretary-General Benelux. |
| 13.00 | Networking lunch |
| 14.00 | End of program |
