#25 Keeping Europe’s Competitive Edge: UNIFE’s role in the Future of Rail
About Enno WiebeEnno is the Director General of UNIFE. After completing his civil engineering studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden, Germany, and at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, he began his professional career at Deutsche Bahn. From 2007 to 2011, he worked at the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Paris, France. Before being appointed Director General of UNIFE, Enno Wiebe served as the Technical Director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), where he oversaw the technical domain as well as other related policies and projects. About UNIFEUNIFE (Union of the European Railway Industries) is the association representing Europe’s rail supply industry, gathering over 120 leading companies and 12 national rail associations. Founded in 1992 and based in Brussels, its members account for 84% of the European and 46% of the global rail market. UNIFE promotes interoperability, coordinates EU-funded research, and works closely with EU institutions and standardisation organisations. It advocates for the industry’s interests at both European and international levels, aiming to ensure high-quality rail systems and strengthen the sector’s technological leadership. UNIFE also produces the biennial World Rail Market Study, leads the UNISIG committee for ERTMS/CCS standards, and supports the IRIS Certification platform.www.unife.org My Key Takeaways• UNIFE brings together over 130 rail suppliers, ranging from global industry leaders to innovative start-ups.• Close collaboration between rail suppliers and operators is essential to drive the major transformation ahead.• Europe’s rail sector requires substantial investments in infrastructure and ERTMS.• Innovation and exceptional product quality remain the industry’s defining strengths.• Flagship initiatives include the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) and ERTMS.• Balancing long asset lifecycles with rapid technological advancements is a key challenge.• European rail technology stands as a global leader and major exporter.• AI enables predictive maintenance, yet safety remains the top priority.• The vision: cross-border high-speed rail as the backbone of sustainable mobility.Sebastian Sperker www.railup.clubsebastian@railup.club