The Rail Baltica Global Forum brings together executives and decision makers with rail, logistics and economics experts as well as potential suppliers from across Europe in a two-day event. With nearly a thousand anticipated participants, the Global Forum is the place to be for those who are instrumental in building faster, safer and greener European transport network.

Videos of the conference will be available in a week.

In 2019 the Forum will take place in Vilnius (Lithuania) from 3-4 April. Get ready for a showcase of the Rail Baltica potential for economies, people, and enterprises of the Baltic States, Finland and Poland as well as broader Europe. Together we will address important questions such as the financing of the EU flagship infrastructure projects and future management model of the Rail Baltica infrastructure. 

This year, we are adding a new dimension to the Forum by inviting municipalities, regional planners, architects and landscape designers to contribute with their ideas on how to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Rail Baltica in urban and regional development.

For media

PROGRAMME

Day 1April 3, 2019


9:00–9:30
Registration and Coffee / Networking
9:30–10:00
Opening Speeches

Mr. Saulius Skvernelis, (video) 
Prime Minister, Republic of Lithuania  
Mr. Henrik Hololei, (video) 
Director-General for Mobility and Transport, DG MOVE, European Commission
10:00–11:00
Ministerial Panel Discussion (video) 
“Rail Baltica Potential for Passengers, Freight and Regional Development” Mr. Timo Riihimäki, 
CEO and Chairperson of Management Board, RB Rail AS

Mr. Anti Kuningas,
Deputy Secretary General for Transport, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Republic of Estonia
Mr. Tālis Linkaits,
Minister of Transport, Republic of Latvia
Mr. Rokas Masiulis,
Minister of Transport and Communications, Republic of Lithuania
Mr. Andrzej Bittel,
Undersecretary of State of Ministry of Infrastructure, Republic of Poland
Ms. Sabina Lindström,
Director, Networks Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland

Moderated by Ms. Catherine Trautmann,
European Coordinator, the North Sea-Baltic TEN-T Corridor
11:00–11:30
Coffee Break
11:30–13:00
Working Session I 
“The Future of European Flagship Infrastructure Project Financing"
  • EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (video) 
Mr. Petri Sarvamaa, 
Vice-Chair of Budget Committee, European Parliament
  • EU Military Mobility (video) 
Mr. Jean-Louis Colson, 
Head of Unit, DG MOVE, European Commission Dr. Libor Lochman,
CER Executive Director

Moderated by Mr. Ignas Degutis, (presentation) (video )   
CFO and Member of Management Board, RB Rail AS
13:00–14:00
Lunch
14:00–15:30
Panel Discussion (video) 
“Railway Infrastructure Management: European Experience and Rail Baltica Needs” Mr. Bardo Schettini Gherardini,
Senior Analyst, European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM)

Mr. Gustaf Engstrand,
Head of Policy and European Affairs, Association of Swedish Train Operating Companies
Mr. Chris Docker, (presentation) 
Director, Strategy & International Development, ATKINS, UK  
Mr. Justus Hartkamp,
Director of International Affairs at ProRail
Mr. Edmundas Daukantas,
Lithuania national association of forwarders and logistics
Mr. Arnis Kākulis, 
Foreign Investors Council in Latvia
Mr. Daivis Virbickas, 
CEO, Litgrid
Mr. Ireneusz Merchel, 
President of the Management Board, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.
15:30–16:00
Coffee Break
16:00–16:40
Working Session II
“Rail Baltica beyond Baltics - Developments in Poland and Finland"
  • Rail Baltica and national transportation infrastructure development in Poland (presentation) (video )   
Mr. Jakub Kapturzak,
Deputy Director of the Department of Railway Transport, Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction of the Republic of Poland
  • Rail Baltica and national transportation infrastructure development in Finland (presentation) ( video  )    
Ms. Sabina Lindström, 
Director from Networks Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland
16:40–17:00
Closing Remarks (video) 
17:00 Official Reception of Global Forum for the Day 1 and Day 2 guests

Day 2April 4, 2019

MAIN STAGE

8:00–9:30
Registration and Coffee / Networking
9:30–11:30
Opening Session 
"Rail Baltica Global and National Plans in 2019"
  • Welcome speech (video) 
Mr. Karolis Sankovski, 
Chairperson of the Supervisory Board, RB Rail AS Mr. Mart Nielsen,  
 CTO and Member of Management Board, RB Rail AS
  • Rail Baltica Global Project Procurement Plan in 2019
Mr. Kaspars Rokens, (presentation) (video )   
COO and Member of Management Board, RB Rail AS
Mr. Kristjan Piirsalu, (presentation) (video )   
Head of Procurement Department, RB Rail AS
  • Rail Baltica National Plans and Procurement: studies, design and construction
Mr. Anvar Salomets, (presentation) (video )   
Chief Technical Officer, Rail Baltic Estonia
Mr. Agnis Driksna, (presentation) (video )   
Director of Development and Cooperation, Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas
Mr. Arenijus Jackus, (presentation) (video )   
Director of Rail Baltica Coordination Department, AB Lietuvos Geležinkelai

Q&A session (video)  
9:30–17:00
Suppliers' Meeting Point
11:30–12:00
Coffee break 
12:00–13:00
Working session I 
"Rail Baltica Design phase: main line and stations"
  • Detailed Technical Designs for the Rail Baltica: status, next steps and lessons learnt (presentation) (video )   
Mr. Kaido Zimmermann,  
 Head of Planning and Design Department, RB Rail AS
Mr. Adamas Ilkevičius, 
Deputy CEO – Head of Strategy and Development, AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai

Q&A session (video) 
13:00–14:00
Lunch
14:00–15:30
Panel Discussion (video) 
"Developing Business Partnerships with the Railway Industry in Europe - Rail Baltica experience, lessons learnt and next steps"

Mr. Phillipe Citroën, 
Director General, Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE)
Mr. Pedro Fortea, 
Director General, Spanish Railway Association (MAFEX)
Mr. Neil Walker,
Exports Director, Railway Industry Association (RIA)
Mr. Mats Boman,
Member of the Board, Swedish Rail Industry Group (Swerig)
Mr. Luc Aliadière,
Counsellor for European Affairs, The French Railway Industries Association (FIF)
Mr. Carlo Borghini,
Executive Director, Shift2Rail
Dr. Ben Möbius,
Managing Director, German Railway Industry Association (VDB)

Moderated by Mr. Kaspars Briškens, (presentation) (video )   
Business Development Manager, RB Rail AS
15:30–16:00
Coffee Break
16:00–16:50
Working Session III 
"Vision for Rail Baltica – outlook for passenger and freight services, rolling stock, and infrastructure maintenance"
  • Operational Plan: an ambitious transport plan on the service of Baltic and European citizens (presentation) (video )   
Mr. Jean-Marc Bedmar, 
Head of Systems and Operation Department, RB Rail AS
Mr. Hinrich Brümmer, 
ETC Gauff Mobility

Q&A Session (video) 
16:50- 17:00
Closing remarks (video) 


SOCIAL DIMENSION STAGE


9:30–11:30
Workshop I (by invitations only)
"Rail Baltica entering communities: plans in 2019 on municipal level, cooperation and opportunities for local developments"

Mr. Aivar Jaeski, 
Country Manager for Estonia, RB Rail AS
Mr. Ģirts Bramans, 
Country Manager for Latvia, RB Rail AS
Mr. Arturas Vilimas, 
Country Manager for Lithuania, RB Rail AS
11:30–12:00  Coffee Break
12:00–13:00 Working Session II
"Rail Baltica Visual Identity: Architectural and Visual Landscaping Guidelines"

Mr. Mārtiņš Ulāns, (presentation) 
Spatial Planning and Environmental Team Leader, RB Rail AS
Mr. Michele Amerio, (presentation) 
Technical Director, 3TI PROGETTI S.p.A
13:00–14:00
Lunch
14:00–17:00 Architectural and Visual Landscaping Guidelines stakeholder workshop for Lithuania (by invitations only)

Speakers

Henrik Hololei
Henrik Hololei Director-General for Mobility and Transport, DG MOVE, EU Commission
Catherine Trautmann
Catherine Trautmann The European Coordinator, the North Sea-Baltic TEN-T Corridor
Jean-Louis Colson
Jean-Louis Colson Head of Unit, DG MOVE, EU Commission
Timo Riihimäki
Timo Riihimäki CEO and Chairperson of the Management Board, RB Rail AS
Ignas Degutis
Ignas Degutis CFO and Member of the Management Board, RB Rail AS
Kaspars Rokens
Kaspars Rokens COO and Member of the Management Board, RB Rail AS
Jean-Marc Bedmar
Jean-Marc Bedmar Head of Systems and Operation Department, RB Rail AS
Kaido Zimmermann
Kaido Zimmermann Head of Planning and Design Department, RB Rail AS
Petri Sarvamaa
Petri Sarvamaa Vice-Chair of Budget Committee, European Parliament
Philippe Citroën
Philippe Citroën Director General, UNIFE
Chris Docker
Chris Docker Director, Strategy & International Development, ATKINS, UK
Karolis Sankovski
Karolis Sankovski Chairperson of the Supervisory Board, RB Rail AS and Director of Railway Infrastructure Directorate, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai AB
Mart Nielsen
Mart Nielsen CTO and Member of the Management Board, RB Rail AS
Monika Heiming
Monika Heiming Executive Director, European Rail Infrastructure Managers
Pedro Fortea
Pedro Fortea General Director and Executive Vice President, Mafex (The Spanish Railway Association)
Anvar Salomets
Anvar Salomets Chief Technical Officer, Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ
Agnis Driksna
Agnis Driksna Director of Development and Communication Department, Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas
Arenijus Jackus
Arenijus Jackus Director of Rail Baltica Coordination Department, Lietuvos Geležinkelai
Kaspars Briškens
Kaspars Briškens Business Development Manager, RB Rail AS
Aivar Jaeski
Aivar Jaeski Country Manager Estonia and Finland, RB Rail AS
Ģirts Bramans
Ģirts Bramans Country Manager Latvia, RB Rail AS
Artūras Vilimas
Artūras Vilimas Country Manager Lithuania and Poland, RB Rail AS
Neil Walker
Neil Walker Export Director, Railway Industry Association
Luc Aliadière
Luc Aliadière Counsellor for European Affairs, The French Railway Industries Association (FIF)
Arnis B. Kākulis
Arnis B. Kākulis Foreign Investors Council in Latvia
Dr. Libor Lochman
Dr. Libor Lochman CER Executive Director
Mārtiņš Ulāns
Mārtiņš Ulāns Spatial Planning and Environmental Team Leader, RB Rail AS
Gustaf Engstrand
Gustaf Engstrand Head of Policy and European Affairs, ASTOC - Association of Swedish Train Operating Companies
Edmundas Daukantas
Edmundas Daukantas Vice-president, Lithuanian National Association of freight forwarders and Logistics
Sabina Lindström
Sabina Lindström Director from Networks Department, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Republic of Finland
Mats Boman
Mats Boman Member of the Board, Swedish Rail Industry Group (SWERIG), CEO at Stockholmskonsulterna AB
Justus Hartkamp
Justus Hartkamp Director of International Affairs at ProRail
Carlo Borghini
Carlo Borghini Executive Director, Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking
Adamas Ilkevičius
Adamas Ilkevičius Deputy CEO – Head of Strategy and Development, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai
Michele Amerio
Michele Amerio Technical Director, Cities & Urban Systems, 3TI Progetti

The Forum is organised by RB Rail AS, a joint venture of three Baltic States, and supported by the project’s national implementing bodies in the three countries – Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ, SIA Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas, and UAB Rail Baltica Statyba. All cooperation partners are responsible for the implementation of Rail Baltica – the largest railroad infrastructure project - to be constructed - in the Baltic countries in the last 100 years. Rail Baltica will form a new economic corridor, which will closely connect the North East of the Europe with the rest of the European Union.

To contact the organizers please write to forum@railbaltica.org

The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.