HSR in 3Seas

Registration of participants

Speech by the Minister Grażyna Ignaczak-Bandych representing H.E. Andrzej Duda President of the Republic of Poland

Speech by Mr Paweł Jabłoński, Undersecretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for 3Seas Initiative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

Speech by US Ambassador to Poland H.E. Mr Mark Brzezinski

Benefits of HSR development and integration between EU countries of the 3Seas Initiative – presentation of analytical report by Steer Group
The report examines economic, social, environmental, resilience and security-related benefits of developing dense and interoperable HSR network between EU countries of the 3Seas Initiative.

Presenting: Mr. Marcin Horała, Polish Government Plenipotentiary for the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny

Opening panel: Development of the HSR network as a boost to economic development of the 3Seas Initiative countries
The panel provides an opportunity for a high-level discussion on the HSR potential to boost economic development of EU countries of the 3Seas Initiative. These benefits will be analyzed in the context of EU policies supporting HSR development.

Panelists:

• Radek Čech, Director of the Department for International Cooperation and the EU, Správa železnic
• Agnis Driksna, CEO of RB Rail AS
• Artur Rudnicki, Director of JASPERS Bureau Warsaw
• Catherine Trautmann, the European Coordinator for the NSB Corridor
• Mikołaj Wild, CEO of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny

Moderator: Karen Letten, Associate Director, Steer Group
 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony

Coffee break
 

Panel discussion: The importance of railway projects in the 3Seas region for strengthening security and resilience of the EU and its neighbors
Discussion will focus on the role new railway connections in the 3Seas region, including HSR, can play in strengthening military mobility capabilities as well as EU resilience through establishing alternative transport routes along North-South axis.

Panelists:

• Adrian Foghiş, Secretary of State, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania
• Sławomir Michalewski, Vice-President of the Board for Financial, Port of Gdańsk Authority S.A.
• Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania
• Colonel Todd Allison, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, United States Army
• Brig. Gen. PhD Tomasz Kowalik, Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, Multinational Corps North-East

Moderator: Michał Baranowski, Managing Director of GMF East, Senior Fellow & Director of the Warsaw Office.
 

Lunch break
 

Panel discussion: : HSR potential in reconstruction of Ukraine
HSR is considered by the Ukrainian Government to be an important part of the Ukrainian reconstruction effort and modernization of its railway network. This panel will focus on the possible contribution HSR can bring both in terms of better transport integration with the EU as well as economic and social benefits for Ukraine.

Panelists:

• Maciej Popowski, Deputy Director General, Directorate General, Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
• Mikołaj Wild, CEO of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny
• Volodymyr Shemayev, Director of Office for International Projects, Ukrainian Railways
• Rafał Zgorzelski, Member of the Board PKP S.A.
• Vasyl Shkurakov, First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine

Moderator: Marc Sadler, Program Leader for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure for Europe at the World Bank
 

Panel discussion: HSR as a path to sustainable transport system
The European Commission considers development of HSR as one of the key tools facilitating decarbonization of the transport system. Railways are considered as the greenest and most sustainable mode of transport contributing to transport inclusion and social cohesion. Panel discussion will focus on the ways in which HSR development can build sustainable transport system in the 3Seas region.

Panelists:

• Václav Bernard, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic
• Andrzej Bittel, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for combating transport exclusion, Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland
• Prof. Krzysztof Galos, Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• Krystian Szczepański, Director of the Polish Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (IEP-NRI)
• Alain Quinet, Deputy CEO for Economics, Strategy & Security, SNCF Réseau
• Javier de Yrigoyen, Senior Programme Manager at Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking

Moderator: Monika Heiming, EIM Executive Director
 

The end of the 1^st day of the RDD 2023 conference

Registration of participants

Welcome speech

Panel discussion: Scope and investment process of HSR
The panel will present all HSR projects  in the region (their goals, adopted approach and project scope) and the innovations applied during their preparation. Discussion will cover main assumptions of each program, foreseen functions of railway lines, key technical parameters and results expected to be reached upon completion of the works. We will also discuss the best ways of conducting preparatory and construction works so as to ensure their quality and deadlines (e.g. topics such as BIM / EDMS or integrated teams will be covered). The panel will also include a discussion on the financial aspects of projects and a strategy for contracting services.

Panelists:

• Ignas Degutis, CFO, RB Rail AS
• Márton Spohn, Head of Department, Railway Infrastructure Development Department – Ministry of Construction and Transport, Hungary
• Aleksander Wołowiec , Railway Stakeholders Deputy Director | Railway Subprogramme Strategy & Planning, Design & Engineering Department, CPK
• Martin Švehlík, Director, HSR Preparation Department, Správa železnic
• Kamil Wilde, Vice-President of the Office of Rail Transport (UTK)

Moderator: Maciej Gładyga, Managing Director, Land Transport Chamber of Commerce (IGTL)
 
 

Coffee break

Panel discussion: Business drivers of HSR
Discussion on the directions of rail development from the business perspective. Market representatives will cover topics such as scale of railway investments in 3Seas region, prospects of their implementation, newest solutions and trends in the industry. We will also discuss possible production capacities in the region with regard to e.g. rolling stock, railway equipment and testing as well as possible changes to legal environment to streamline investments.

Panelists:

• Pablo Ramos, Account Director,INECO
• Maciej Olek, Member of the Board, Budimex S.A.
• Olivier Piron, Head of Rolling Stock and Fixed Installations Unit, the European Union Agency for Railways
• Marita Szustak, CEO, Land Transport Chamber of Commerce (IGTL)
• Marek Kleszczewski, Member of the Board, PKP Energetyka

Moderator: Ian Horseman Sewell, Vice President, UK & Europe, CPCS

Lunch break

Panel discussion: Passenger perspective of HSR
This panel will try to answer the question of how to include the passenger’s needs in HSR investments. We will approach the passenger as a customer to whom we have to deliver comfortable, attractive and competitive rail alternative to other modes of transport. The panel will highlight the role of transfer nodes being part of HSR network as not only access points to passenger transport services, but also a revolution in the way urban areas function. We will discuss rolling stock solutions dedicated to ensuring the comfort, quality and safety of passengers as well as issues related to the transport organization, timetabling and integration with local transport. Timetable will be highlighted as a key element in shaping passengers’ choices and determining infrastructure needs. We will also discuss the railway undertakings’ approach to designing their services.

Panelists:

• Michał Jasiak, Deputy Director for Analysis, Railway Subprogramme Strategy & Planning, Design & Engineering Department, CPK
• Florence Rousseau-Deltheil, Marketing Manager TGVM, SNCF
• Martin Švehlík, Director, HSR Preparation Department, Správa železnic
• Jacek Konop, PhD. Eng., Vice-President of the Board, Chief Technology Officer, PESA Bydgoszcz S.A.

Moderator: Łukasz Malinowski, Rynek Kolejowy

Coffee break

Panel discussion: Breakthrough innovations in rail
The closing panel will be centered around technological progress and opportunities coming with it. The main goal is to identify drivers for railway development. Topics include potential of hydrogen-powered railways, hyperloop, 5G or big data. It serves as a chance to identify players in the region that could be involved in the 3Seas projects.

Panelists:

• Martyna Abendrot-Miłuńska, PTV Group
• Janusz Kućmin, Nevomo
• Daniel Lopour, Market Development Department-Railway Sector, EUSPA
• Marek Pawlik, Deputy Director for Railway Interoperability Ph. D., D. Sc. Eng, Professor of Railway Research Institute
• Ricardo Campo, Program Director, CEDEX

Moderator: Miroslav Prokic, Railways Explained

Closing ceremony