This year’s event brought together industry leaders to tackle a big question: How can we make rail freight in Southeast Europe faster, more efficient, and just plain better? Over two days, attendees explored the future of rail freight in this crucial region.
Day One - beginning: A Deep Dive into Southeast Europe
The first day started with a workshop that zoomed in on key rail freight developments in the former Yugoslavia and Turkey. Here are some of the topics that kept the conversation moving:
- EU Funding: Is It Doing the Job? Experts took a close look at the EU’s current funding measures, asking the big question: Are these programs really driving expansion in rail freight, or could they be doing more? Spoiler alert: there’s room for improvement.
- Rail Corridors: What’s Working and What’s NotThe region’s infrastructure got its moment in the spotlight, with experts assessing what’s working and where more efficient corridors are sorely needed.
- Terminals: The Multimodal PuzzleThe potential for more multifunctional terminals was another topic, with a mix of excitement and caution over how to expand these crucial hubs and make sure they play nicely with the existing setup.
- The Central Corridor of the Silk RoadThe age-old Silk Road isn’t just a relic of history. The central corridor is shaping up to be a key player in modern freight transport, and this session dug into its potential to carry even more freight between Europe and Asia.
- TransFer Corridor TrainsThe Rail Cargo Group has big plans to expand its train services, and they’re not doing it alone. By teaming up with partners, they’re aiming to introduce new transportation offers and shake up the region’s logistics landscape.
- Serbia: A New Multimodal Star?Serbia made headlines for its growing multimodal connections, with new international transport options making it an exciting space to watch.
- Marmaray Rail Tunnel: The Game ChangerOne of the showstoppers was the Marmaray tunnel, a railway tunnel running under the Bosporus. Connecting Europe and Asia by rail, this engineering marvel has been used by freight trains since 2020, and its potential for further boosting trade was a big talking point.
Day One - continuing: Talk Transport with a Side of Corridors
After the workshop, attendees took part in a forum, led by UIRR General Director Ralf Charley Schultze. The discussion turned to the region’s combined transport options—where rail meets road, sea, and everything else. The buzz was all about the restructuring of Rail Freight Corridors, which are set to shrink in number but grow in importance as they integrate with the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This streamlining is aimed at making Europe’s rail network more efficient and easier to navigate.
Day Two: Welcoming New Members
On October 11, IBS Chairman Olaf Krüger took the stage to welcome eight new members to the association, including several guests from Turkey. The Executive Board then shared updates on various projects that have been in the works since their last gathering in Helsinki. Ralf Charley Schultze updated attendees on EU structural developments in the rail sector.
The second part of the congress got everyone thinking about a modern freight challenge: how to transport non-craneable trailers more efficiently. IBS Board member Tiberiu Buzas led the discussion, diving into new ways to make mixed multimodal trains even more efficient. Participants agreed: stronger partnerships between IBS members and a little extra promotional push could help make this idea a reality.
In Conclusion: Rail Freight’s Bright Future
All in all, the 52nd IBS Congress made one thing clear: the future of rail freight in Southeast Europe is full of potential, but it will require at least collaboration, innovation and other exciting projects like the Marmaray tunnel or new multimodal options taking shape.
