Working Groups

In order to convey properly the aims of our members and to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of our association, we propose the creation of three working groups in relation to:

Infrastructure

To carry out studies, analysis, reports and proposals (encouraging its implementation)in relation to the development of railway infrastructures in the European Union (particularly in the Core Network defined by the European Commission) and also in neighbouring countries and even in the Euro-Asian scenario, in order to facilitate the passage of freight trains according to current potential demand and taking into account the postulates of the “FERRMED Standards”. Special emphasis should be placed in the corridors defined by FERRMED as “EU Main Trans-Eurasian Corridors”, corresponding to the 15,000Km with the most rail freight traffic potential in the Core Network (see figure below), giving priority to the corridors that exhibit greater deficiencies – e.g. the case of the Mediterranean Corridor.

Operations

Carry out studies, analysis, reports and proposals (encouraging its implementation)regarding the operations of the EU railway network (especially the lines corresponding to the “Core Network” established by the European Commission) and also in neighbouring countries and even in the Euro-Asian scenario, considering all related aspects (harmonization and simplification of processes, rates, path allocation, free competition with non-discriminatory access to lines, traceability, unification of management, etc.). All this in order to facilitate the passage of freight trains with an appropriate level of quality at competitive cost levels and an optimization of the intermodal process, always taking into account the postulates of the “FERRMED Standards”.

Rolling Stock

Stimulating the development and implementation of studies, analysis, reports and proposals in relation to the development of railway rolling stock (locomotives, wagons and other related rolling material) in order to improve performance and make freight traffic more profitable, safer, more efficient, more compatible with intermodality and more respectful to the environment, in the European Union (particularly in the “Core Network”) and in neighbouring countries. All this taking into account the postulates of the “FERRMED Standards”.

Its priorities are:

    1. Freight trains length increasing until 740 m.
    2. FERRMED Freight wagon concept implementation.
    3. Need of a Substitution Plan (Scrappage Scheme) to construct new freight wagons or retrofitting of the current ones, looking for the compatibility between the newly-designed wagons and the current ones (especially at the coupling system).
    4. Reduction of the environmental impact of the rolling stock (particularly noise, vibration and GHG emissions).
    5. Implementation of the ERTMS system on current locomotives.
    6. Construction of wagons according to the adopted criteria, for testing.

As usual, each Working Group should have one Coordinator and one Secretary.
Everybody, including the Advisory Council members, who wishes to participate, according to their preferences and needs, can register for any Group.
These Working Groups may meet as many times as they deem appropriate or at the request of the President or the Secretary General of the Association.
The general action plan of each group must be in accordance with the calendar and the overall program of activities of the Association.
The proposals of each Group must be submitted for the approval of the Board of Directors and/or the Presidency.
In some special cases, with the authorization of the Board of Directors and/or the Presidency, the Working Groups may be subdivided according to geographical zones or specific projects. 

FMWG Resources

Documentation related to the Working Groups