A Workshop on New Trends in Railway Reform Policy, jointly sponsored by the
UNECE Trans-European Railway (TER) Project, the Ministry of Transport and
Communications of Finland, the Finnish Railways Ltd. (VR), the Polish State
Railways (PKP) and the World Bank, took place in Helsinki (5-6 March 2002)
and Warsaw (7-8 March 2002).
The purpose of the Workshop was to exchange experiences in implementing railway
reform measures among European, North American, and Central Asian countries.
The Workshop brought together speakers and participants from both industrialized
and transition countries that have taken the lead in railway restructuring
reforms. Managers, consultants and strategic investors from 25 countries,
together with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Financial Institutions
(IFIs) attended the meeting.
The issues debated included: complex economic and financial problems of countries
in transition; private versus public approach in developing the railway sector
in transition countries; investment planning and financing of projects; downsizing
- an element of restructuring the railways; options for financing labour redundancies
in the railways; railway reform in various countries; role of IFIs and international
organizations in assisting countries in transition.
The monitoring of the progress of railway reform in Central and Eastern Europe
started in 1995 in the framework of the UNECE sponsored TER Project, which
is also dealing with the adequate preparation of railway investment projects,
and their financing. The UNECE-TER Project and the World Bank are jointly
promoting railway reform debates and exchange of experiences among countries.
The TER Project is a sub-regional cooperation framework established in 1990
under the aegis of the UNECE (Geneva) by the Governments of Central, Eastern
and South Eastern European countries. The TER Project is working for the development
of railway and combined transport infrastructure in the region and is committed
to assisting European integration and economic development through the facilitation
of railway traffic in Europe.
The activities of the Project are supported by the contribution of 16 countries
which have so far acceded to TER: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland,
Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey. In addition, Belarus,
Latvia, Republic of Moldova, The Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia,
Ukraine and recently the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, have been participating
in the activities of the Project as observer countries.
For additional information please contact:
Mr. Jose Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Mr. Michalis P. Adamantiadis, Regional Adviser
UNECE Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41(0)22 917 24 01, 917 11 28
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Mr. Mircea Lupescu, Project Manager
UNECE TER Project Central Office, Budapest
Tel: +361 353 27 72, 27 74
Fax: +361 269 41 95
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.unece.org/trans
(Under TER heading)