15th Florence Rail Forum: Private Financing of Railway Infrastructures

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Final programme

Summary of Presentations

The Observer: Private Financing of Railway Infrastructure

Following the usual format of the Florence School of Regulation, the 15^th Florence Rail Forum aims at offering a platform for senior stakeholders from regulators, railway undertakings, infrastructure managers, rail suppliers, authorities, associations and academics to take stock of topics relevant to mobility regulation and policies. Discussing with us on this occasion will be, among others, Mr Karel Vinck, European ERTMS Coordinator and Mr Keir Fitch Head of Unit at DG MOVE, European Commission.

Developing the EU’s Railway Network is a high priority. The TEN-T core network is to be completed by 2030, and the comprehensive network by 2050. While the policy guidelines are solid, the success of the ambitious goal for developing the European-wide transport infrastructure also depends on the financing tools. Railway projects are highly capital intensive, and the traditional way of funding railway infrastructure development and maintenance through public money and infrastructure charges is reaching its limits in light of limited public funding. Therefore, the discussion is now open as to innovative instruments suitable to finance railway infrastructures. Indeed, the governments are increasingly looking for private funding.

The European Commission has developed some innovative tools that go beyond the traditional funding methods. For example, in the 2014-2020 programming period, the CEF has been implemented through a mix of grants, procurement, and financial instruments, facilitating synergies and leveraging private finance for projects with European added-value. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly used as a procurement method for large infrastructure projects, albeit not without controversy. Successful examples of private capital in the railway system can be found in the EU as well as at the global level: For instance, railway stations can be highly attractive for private investments; private actors are already important actors in urban public transport and last mile solutions for rail freight.

However, private financing also requires new thinking on behalf of all actors in the railway system who have relied on and become used to public funding (grant finance).

The goal of this 15^th Florence Rail Forum is to discuss the role private financing can play, specifically in the context of the post-2020 EU financial framework with different stakeholders operating in the broad railway sector.

We will try to address different aspects and instruments making reference to concrete examples as much as possible, so as to favour mutual learning.  The discussions will be structured around the four main questions followed by four discussion rounds with inputs from railway operators, regulators and academics.

For more information, please contact FSR.Transport@eui.eu

Memories from the 15th Florence Rail Forum on “Private Financing of Railway Infrastructures” on Friday last week! Thanks a lot for coming and discussing with us! #financing #funding #railway #infrastructure #ertms >> https://t.co/gG2yiY59JP pic.twitter.com/QlxTwgXkDm

— FSR Transport (@FSR_Transport) 27 novembre 2017

RELATED PRESENTATIONS

Introduction to the 15th Florence Rail Forum – MATTHIAS FINGER, Part-time Professor & Director of the Transport Area, Florence School of Regulation/EUI; and Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Keynote speech: how to use business case in finance programme – KAREL VINCK, European ERTMS Coordinator

Introduction to the 15th Florence Rail Forum – KEIR FITCH, Head of Unit “Rail Safety & Interoperability”, European Commission, DG MOVE

What are the biggest railway investment challenges and how can public and private funds address them? – PAUL MAZATAUD, SNCF Réseau

What are the biggest railway investment challenges and how can public and private funds address them? – FRANK MIRAM, Director Economic, Political and Regulatory Affairs, Deutsche Bahn

What are the biggest railway investment challenges and how can public and private funds address them? – LUIS NISTAL MARTÍNEZ, Area Manager of EU Funds, ADIF

What are the biggest railway investment challenges and how can public and private funds address them? – LUCA ARNOLD, Head of Regulatory and International Affairs, SBB

CEF2, EFSI and MFF – which role for private investment in the context of the EU’s future financial framework? – KEIR FITCH, Head of Unit “Rail Safety & Interoperability”, European Commission, DG MOVE

CEF2, EFSI and MFF – which role for private investment in the context of the EU’s future financial framework? – ALBERTO MAZZOLA, Senior VP International Affairs, FS Italiane

CEF2, EFSI and MFF – which role for private investment in the context of the EU’s future financial framework? – VICTOR VAUGOIN, Head of Brussels Office, ÖBB

CEF2, EFSI and MFF – which role for private investment in the context of the EU’s future financial framework? – RAFFAELE ZURLO, CEO, Brenner Base Tunnel SE

How can the rail sector attract private capital? How to ensure that private investment in infrastructure will guarantee sustainability? – MATTHIAS KLUMPP, Senior Researcher, University of Duisburg-Essen

How can the rail sector attract private capital? How to ensure that private investment in infrastructure will guarantee sustainability? – KENJI MURASAKI, Deputy Head of Brussels Office, EJRC

Private money for (public) infrastructures, what can be learned from past experience, other sectors and other regions? – DANIEL HERFURTH, Student, University of Konstanz

Private money for (public) infrastructures, what can be learned from past experience, other sectors and other regions? – LORENZO CASULLO, Economist, OECD

Private money for (public) infrastructures, what can be learned from past experience, other sectors and other regions? – VERONICA ELENA BOCCI, Coordinator, DITECFER

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