European rail sector submits proposal for the European Railway Platform as the Capacity Regulation enters into force

European rail sector submits proposal for the European Railway Platform as the Capacity Regulation enters into force

ALLRAIL, CER, ERFA, FEPORT, FTE, UIP and UIRR call on the European Commission to approve the proposal swiftly so that the platform can begin its work without delay

As the new Regulation (EU) 2026/1184 on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the Single European Railway Area enters into force, the undersigned associations have formally submitted their joint proposal for the establishment of the European Railway Platform (ERP) to the European Commission.

Under the new EU rules for railway capacity and traffic management, the ERP will become the collective operational voice of railway operators and other market participants, including passenger and freight railway undertakings, service facility operators, competent authorities and other stakeholders directly involved in rail operations. The proposal enables the ERP to serve as a strong and consolidating counterpart to the European Network of Infrastructure Managers (ENIM), representing market actors across all rail segments.

A joint effort across the sector

The proposed ERP is the result of many months of collaborative work among the undersigned associations, reflecting a genuine cross-sector commitment and readiness to make the new governance framework respond to the needs of the European rail market.

Inclusive by design, effective in practice

The ERP is designed as an inclusive platform open to all eligible stakeholders, including new market entrants and smaller organisations with limited resources. At the same time, the ERP's governance structure ensures operational effectiveness through clear decision-making procedures, balanced governance arrangements, and a lean organizational structure.

A strong counterpart to ENIM - and a strong and collective voice for the market

The ERP fills a gap that no other body in the new governance architecture can fill. It will allow market participants to coordinate their views and engage collectively within ERP, as well as with ENIM, on future European railway capacity, traffic management and performance review rules. The ERP will help ensure that future European frameworks developed in the scope of the Capacity Regulation better reflect operational realities and market needs.

Call for support and swift action by the European Commission

The undersigned associations call on the European Commission to assess the ERP proposal promptly and to communicate its agreement at the earliest possible opportunity. The associations stress that the ERP should become operational as quickly as possible to ensure that the market is represented from the very beginning of the new governance process.

Attributable quotes from partnering associations

Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director, CER: "The broad support behind this proposal demonstrates the European rail sector's commitment to making the new capacity management framework work in practice. The ERP will provide a structured and inclusive platform to ensure that operational expertise and market realities are properly reflected from the very beginning."

Edgar Schenk, Managing Director, FTE: "For many months, Forum Train Europe has coordinated this joint effort. The result is a proposal that is both legally robust and practically workable. We look forward to seeing the ERP operational as soon as possible."

Nick Brooks, Secretary General, ALLRAIL: "ALLRAIL welcomes the creation of the ERP as a platform capable of providing high-quality input on rail infrastructure capacity issues, which remains one of the key market barriers for new entrants. Thanks to the engagement of all stakeholders, the ERP provides a strong basis for balanced representation and should continue to ensure that new entrants have a meaningful voice as its work develops. We therefore call on the EU Commission to act swiftly, so that the market can start addressing the upcoming challenges from day one."

Maria Price, Secretary General, ERFA: "The ERP must be brought to life now. Together we have created a unique solution to implement a governance model where market actors and infrastructure managers will work together to improve capacity management, operational performance and the competitiveness of rail freight. ERFA together with its members, the private and independent rail freight companies, stand ready to play their part in turning this proposal into a reality."

Lamia Kerdjoudj, Secretary General, FEPORT: "Ports are essential parts in the logistics chain and for rail freight. We fully support the inclusive approach of this proposal that gives private port operators a voice in ERP."

Gilles Peterhans, Secretary General, UIP: "UIP welcomes the set-up of ERP - a truly multilateral forum - which is critical to ensure that capacity management operates seamlessly cross-border and will thus benefit shippers and the supply chain. As wagon keepers, we are looking forward to being part of a governance structure designed from the ground up to bring all operational stakeholders together on equal footing."

Ralf-Charley Schultze, Director General, UIRR: "Combined transport is at the intersection of rail, road and maritime logistics. The ERP's inclusive design, which accommodates the diversity of operational stakeholders including intermodal players, which include the managers of terminals and other rail facilities, is precisely what the sector needs."

Download below the press release.