Thursday, February 29, 2024
The 17th edition of the European Railway Award took place today in Brussels, organized jointly by the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). This year’s event, held during the European Year of Skills, celebrated notable achievements in the railway sector.
Former European Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, was honored with the Rail Champion prize for her significant contributions to promoting women in transport professions. Additionally, the Rail Trailblazer prize was awarded to a pioneering project by Danish State Railways (DSB), which introduced a new train operator profile for their S-trains.
The prestigious ceremony, held at Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts, was inaugurated by Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal. In attendance, representing the Belgian Presidency of the EU, was Georges Gilkinet, the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility.
Opening the event Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal declared: “Greening mobility must be the new licence for the transport sector to grow. There is no doubt that Europe needs a strong railway system to maintain its competitiveness, while also staying on track to reach our climate and biodiversity targets. A successful implementation of the European Green Deal in the transport sector depends greatly on the development and innovation of the rail market.”
Representing the Belgian Presidency of the EU, Georges Gilkinet, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility asserted: “In a groundbreaking move towards a sustainable and connected future, the recent agreement on the Trans-European Transport Network Regulation provides a clear, long-term vision for European railway infrastructures. Such vision needs substantial financial resources. This is the reason why the Connecting Europe Facility Program is pivotal, requiring a well-financed third CEF call to support our ambitions and address the imminent challenges posed by global warming, as our infrastructure faces the heat, both literally and metaphorically. We must wisely invest to reach both our economic and environmental goals. To do so, attracting diverse talent is crucial for the sector’s future, and I applaud recent agreements, such as the European social Partner Agreement on Women in Rail, while stressing the importance of inclusivity for a sustainable and vibrant railway industry.”
The Rail Champion title of the European Railway Award is a prestigious accolade jointly conferred by CER and UNIFE. This year, the two associations sought to honor former European Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, for her dedicated efforts in promoting diversity within transport professions, particularly addressing the longstanding underrepresentation of women. Ms. Bulc notably championed the Women in Transport Platform for Change, a stakeholder forum that remains active today and continues to drive momentum on the issue. Her advocacy for attracting more women to careers in transport struck a chord within the rail sector, prompting intensified efforts in recent years to increase female representation, resulting in tangible progress.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Violeta Bulc said: “I am deeply honoured and profoundly touched by the award given to me by the railway community, which I perceive as a testament to the dedicated efforts of the entire transport ecosystem during my tenure. It is also a tribute to the collective excellence of President Juncker’s team. Transport serves as the vital thread connecting communities and fostering relationships. When transport functions seamlessly, society thrives; conversely, when transport stops everything stops. Therefore, those working in the transport sector bear the weight of society on their shoulders.
Railways, in particular, play a leading role within the sector in crucial areas such as environmental sustainability, safety, and facilitating a modern lifestyle. While on the move, passengers can enjoy a comfortable space for work, conversations, relaxation, and the enjoyment of scenic views, minimizing the hassles of travel to city centres. It is also undeniable that railways play a pivotal role in the efficient movement of inland cargo within the EU single market and beyond, contributing to the success and competitive positioning of businesses of the European Union.”
Chosen by a panel of policymakers, industry specialists, and journalists, the 2024 Rail Trailblazer award was presented to DSB’s S-train operator project. This innovative recruitment endeavor effectively utilized digital transformation to establish a fresh job profile, addressing skill deficiencies, attracting fresh talent, and fostering diversity within the workforce.
Juror Mr Ondřej Kovařík, Member of the European Parliament, announced the winner on stage, stating: “I would advocate for a railway sector that is attractive for skilled talents. A sector that goes beyond mobility, excels in innovation, combines state of the art engineering and manufacturing with new digital technologies. A true gateway to the future.”
The genesis of the project coincided with the implementation of a new digital signaling system on the Copenhagen S-trains. As the operational requirements for these trains evolved, DSB recognized the opportunity to introduce a novel ‘S-train operator’ profile. The streamlined application process and focused training, distinct from traditional train drivers’ programs, broadened the scope of potential candidates while upholding rigorous railway safety standards and enhancing overall company performance. The project’s success became evident during initial recruitment cycles, which saw a surge in applications, including a noteworthy increase in female applicants. Consequently, the initiative has fostered greater diversity among employees in terms of gender, age, and educational background, expanded the talent pool, and optimized learning and operational efficiency. Additionally, it has positively impacted the education, training, and recruitment processes for traditional train drivers.
Flemming Jensen, CEO of DSB, was present to collect the Award, stating: “I am proud and honoured to receive this award on behalf of all the colleagues at DSB who have worked with dedication on this project. With the development of the S-train driver training programme, we have created a role that not only establishes a strong foundation for diverse recruitment but also ensures that the position is more in line with technological advancements and future demands.”
Accompanying the Rail Trailblazer trophy is a €10,000 donation to the charity of the recipient’s choosing. Mr. Jensen opted to support the Danish Red Cross, with which DSB maintains a longstanding partnership.
The European Year of Skills served as a pertinent theme for this year’s ceremony. With a reliance on a diverse and highly skilled workforce, the rail sector is acutely aware of the challenges in attracting and training individuals equipped for the digital and ecological transitions. Addressing skill gaps and an aging workforce are among the myriad obstacles to ensuring the rail industry has access to the requisite talent pool. However, a growing enthusiasm for rail as a sustainable mode of transport is inspiring younger generations to explore careers in the field.
In addition to acknowledging the remarkable efforts to attract, train, and retain new talent within the sector, the event facilitated discussions on reshaping the skill landscape for the future of rail. A roundtable discussion convened the Chairs of UNIFE and CER alongside Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission to explore strategies for advancing this endeavor.
Representing the European Parliament Tilly Metz, underlined: “The shift-to-rail presents new opportunities. Digitalisation leads to labour openings that need to be met with skill development. As part of the Green Transition, the modal shift will have to be inclusive. Women need to become integral to the sector and be given the tools to engage in transport professions.”
Magda Kopczyńska from the European Commission Director-General for Mobility and Transport, stated: “Having a workforce with the right skills is key to achieving sustainable growth, enabling innovation and improving companies’ competitiveness. But acquiring new skills is also essential to enable people to adapt to a changing labour market. This is why the issue of skills is a priority for the Commission, and why the ongoing European Year of Skills was launched last year.”
Michael Peter, UNIFE Chair and CEO of Siemens Mobility, commented on the significance of the Award: “We are living in exciting times with digitalization transforming the way we travel and transforming the way we live. To help us deliver a digital and sustainable future, we must attract the best talent to shape the rail industry and maintain our global leadership”
Andreas Matthä, CER Chair and CEO of Austrian Federal railways ÖBB, took the opportunity to underline: “A European strategy against labour force shortage must include actions in many policy areas. This will be a huge entrepreneurial, political, and social effort. Overall, I see three major challenges: Firstly, we must improve gender balance, ensure compatibility of family life and career for all, and achieve equal pay at last. Secondly, we must offer older colleagues the opportunity to stay in their jobs longer including reorientation in their later career, and reassignment of physical activities if desired. Thirdly, let’s give the young people who have migrated to Europe a chance to make their contribution here.”
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
