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Since its inception in 2010, the Antwerp Rail School, hosted by the Department of Transport and Regional Economics (TPR) at the University of Antwerp, has brought together master's students, doctoral researchers, academics and railway industry professionals. Its purpose is to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice, offering participants a deeper understanding of the economic, technological and institutional developments shaping the European railway sector.

The Antwerp Rail School returns from 19 to 22 April 2027 for its 10th Anniversary Edition continuing a tradition of interdisciplinary learning, industry engagement and practical exploration of railway transport.

The 2027 edition is organised by the University of Antwerp's Department of Transport and Regional Economics, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Jochen Maes, guest professor at Ghent University and affiliated with TPR, University of Antwerp, and Dr. Raimonds Aronietis, professor of Transport Policy. The organising committee brings together academic expertise and industry experience, with the involvement of railway organisations including Infrabel, SNCB, Lineas, Siemens Mobility and Alpha Trains.

Why Rail Matters

Railways are central to Europe's ambitions for a more sustainable, competitive and resilient transport system. Yet the sector faces a fundamental challenge: how can rail expand its role in European mobility and logistics while improving productivity, financial sustainability and service quality?

The scale of the opportunity is considerable. In 2024, passengers made 8.7 billion rail trips across the EU, generating 444.5 billion passenger-kilometres. In Belgium, SNCB carried 245 million passengers, approaching its pre-pandemic record. At the same time, the sector faces significant challenges in freight transport, technological modernisation and market development.

Railway economics and market development: competition in transition

European railway markets have undergone substantial regulatory and institutional changes, opening new opportunities for competition and new business models. In 2022, new entrants accounted for 49% of the EU rail freight market and 12.6% of commercial passenger rail traffic. Yet liberalisation raises important questions about profitability, public subsidies, market access and the long-term sustainability of railway services. The emergence of new passenger operators and the renewed interest in international night trains make it particularly important to understand the conditions under which competition can deliver better outcomes for passengers and society. France, for example, recorded more than one million night-train passengers in 2024.

Intermodal competitiveness: reversing the decline in rail freight

Despite its potential to reduce emissions and strengthen European supply chains, rail freight continues to struggle to gain market share. EU rail freight performance fell from 375.1 billion tonne-kilometres in 2024 to 368.2 billion in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive annual decline. In 2024, rail accounted for just 5.4% of total EU freight transport when maritime transport is included. In Belgium, its share of freight transport measured in tonne-kilometres was 11%. Improving competitiveness requires addressing infrastructure capacity, terminal access, interoperability, operational costs and competition with road transport. Efficient railway connections are particularly important for ports such as Antwerp-Bruges, which depend on reliable and competitive hinterland transport.

Infrastructure resilience and the energy transition

Expanding railway services requires substantial investment in infrastructure, rolling stock and energy systems. At the same time, climate change and extreme (cold, dry and wet) weather events place increasing pressure on infrastructure reliability and maintenance. Alternative traction technologies, including battery, hydrogen and hybrid systems, offer potential pathways to decarbonisation, but their economic and operational suitability varies by route and service. The challenge is to reconcile environmental objectives, infrastructure resilience and service expansion with affordability and financial sustainability.

Digitalisation and railway technology: investing in productivity, safety and capacity

ERTMS, automatic train operation (ATO), digital monitoring and cybersecurity are transforming railway operations. These technologies can improve interoperability, safety, capacity and operational efficiency, but their deployment requires substantial investment and careful consideration of costs and benefits. The scale of the investment is considerable. According to the European Commission's Third ERTMS Work Plan (2026), deploying ERTMS trackside across the entire TEN-T network is estimated to require €75–85 billion, of which €37–42 billion concerns the Core Network alone. A further €10–15 billion is needed for rolling stock. EU funding through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) contributes to these investments, but covers only part of the overall deployment costs. The deployment challenge remains substantial: by the end of 2024, ETCS was operational on approximately 10% of the TEN-T network (12,400 km), while around 19% of the European railway fleet was equipped. Beyond financing, important questions remain concerning deployment costs, implementation timelines, interoperability, technological standardisation and the coordination of infrastructure managers and railway operators.

The future of European railways will depend on how successfully the sector addresses these interconnected economic, regulatory, operational and technological challenges. The Antwerp Rail School 2027 brings these questions together, providing a platform to examine the current state of play, provide industry and research evidence, allows to debate policy choices and explore practical solutions with the people shaping the sector.

The Antwerp Rail School aims to strengthen interaction between academia and the railway industry by giving students and early-career researchers the opportunity to engage with the sector's important economic, regulatory, operational and technological challenges.

The four-day programme is rich in content and combines academic perspectives with practical industry insights. Participants explore how railway markets function, how infrastructure capacity is allocated, how freight and passenger services can become more competitive, and how technological innovation can improve the performance of railway systems.

Together, the four themes provide participants with an integrated perspective on the economic, regulatory, engineering and technological forces shaping the European railway sector, and on the choices facing policymakers, infrastructure managers, railway undertakings and investors.

Who should attend?

Whether you're a seasoned professional, an academic, master's student, or a PhD researcher, this is your chance to gain advanced insights into rail transport and contribute to the dialogue shaping its future. We welcome a diverse group of participants to foster exchange and collaboration.

Over four days, you will meet fellow students and researchers, academics, railway professionals, infrastructure managers, operators and industry experts. Exchange perspectives, discuss real-world challenges and discover opportunities for research, collaboration and career development.

What will you gain?

• Broaden your knowledge: Explore railway economics, market liberalisation, freight competitiveness, infrastructure resilience and technological innovation.
• Connect theory with practice: Learn from industry experts and gain practical insights through technical visits to Infrabel Academy in Brussels and SNCB's Central Workshop in Mechelen.
• Build your network: Meet people from across the railway sector, exchange ideas during sessions and coffee breaks, and develop connections that can extend beyond the school.
• Discover new opportunities: Identify potential research collaborations, professional contacts and career paths in a sector undergoing significant transformation.

With an average attendance of approximately 50 participants per day at previous editions, the Antwerp Rail School offers an engaging setting. The experience extends beyond the lecture room. Sessions at the University of Antwerp, complemented by technical visits to leading railway facilities, bring participants closer to both the academic and operational realities of the sector. Coffee breaks and networking moments and panel sessions provide time to exchange ideas informally, while the programme's social activities offer opportunities to strengthen connections. An exquisite closing lunch will bring the experience to a memorable conclusion, celebrating four days of learning, discussion and new connections.

Are you eager to deepen your expertise in rail passenger and freight transport? Do you want to engage in dynamic discussions about the latest developments in rail policy, infrastructure and sustainability?

Then we warmly invite you to register for the 10th edition of the Antwerp Rail School!

Sessions will take place in the historic buildings of the University of Antwerp and at the Infrabel Academy (located in Brussels).