FRANKFURT – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn, organised the 7th Meeting of the Railway Infrastructure Managers Network (RIMN) of the Western Balkans and a dedicated workshop on railway infrastructure resilience, gathering railway experts and policymakers from the Western Balkans, Georgia, and EU institutions in Frankfurt, Germany on 27-28 March 2025.
The event discussed strengthening regional rail networks and improving resilience in the face of climate change. With climate change posing increasing challenges to railway infrastructure, this meeting aimed to advance cooperation and enhance implementation of strategic solutions to future-proof rail networks.
The meeting witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Railways of Bosnia and Herzegovina to step up regional cooperation and ensure closer collaboration among Western Balkan rail operators. Discussions also focused on a new resilience addendum, outlining measures to enhance the ability of railway infrastructure to withstand climate-related disruptions.
Experts from leading organisations, including Deutsche Bahn, ARUP, JASPERS, and the European Union Agency for Railways, shared their insights on climate resilience, digital solutions, and interoperability of European corridors. The event also featured updates on the Regional Rail Centre of Excellence, an initiative designed to drive innovation and best practices in railway management across the Western Balkans.
During the second day of the event, participants had the opportunity to explore practical applications of resilience measures through a visit to Deutsche Bahn’s Central Traffic Control Centre and Sky Deck, where they learned about the latest innovations in railway operations.
