Connecting Europe Days 2026 brought the EU transport sector together in Brussels for three days of debate on a more competitive, resilient and sustainable transport system, opened for the first time by President Ursula von der Leyen with a call for a true Transport Union, with rail at its heart.

Europe’s Rail hosted a side event on the ERTMS Deal and a stand with a live demonstration of the System Pillar Real-Time Railway Digital Twin.
Executive Director Giorgio Travaini moderated the panel “Towards the Rail Freight of the Future” on 29 September and, on Wednesday 30 September, received Commissioner Magda Kopczynska at the exhibition.

The break-out session “Towards the rail freight of the future” on 29 September explored paths to an integrated, automated and digitalised logistics ecosystem that is resilient to disruption and responsive to both civil and military needs. Moderated by Europe’s Rail Executive Director Giorgio Travaini, with panellists Constanze Bannholzer (ÖBB), Maria Price (ERFA), Lorena Saez (Fundación Valenciaport) and Gilles Peterhans (UIP), the discussion examined how infrastructure, rolling stock, digital platforms and human capital can be brought together to create a more integrated, efficient and sustainable EU transport network.