OREANDA-NEWS. July 24, 2012. The conference "Europe’s Railways Today and Tomorrow: From National Networks to Pan-European Transport Space" began its work during the annual meeting of European railway heads, reported the press-centre of RZD.

The event is being attended by heads of railway companies and administrations from over 20 European countries, including Guillaume Pepy, President of French railway company SNCF, and Rudiger Grube, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG.

Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, welcomed the participants and expressed confidence that "the meeting of heads of the largest railway companies in Europe in such a representative structure will contribute to the modernisation and balanced development of rail transport on the Eurasian continent."

"The effective development of main line railways and the implementation of all strategic goals can become a powerful catalyst for accelerating the social and economic development of the economies of Europe and Russia in the long term and strengthening international cooperation between countries," said Yakunin.

The conference will sum up the results of the meeting of European railway company heads in 2011 and examine various aspects of freight and passenger rail transport, as well as the reform of the rail industry and other topics.