On 21 September 2026, more than 300 participants from across the European rail sector, together with railway representatives from 18 countries worldwide, boarded the European Train in Brussels for its journey to Berlin and InnoTrans 2026. For EPF, the European Train was also an opportunity to put passengers at the centre of these conversations and contribute to a busy programme of activities throughout the journey and at InnoTrans.
Organised by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, together with the European Commission and the European Union Agency for Railways, the second edition of the European Train brought together the wider rail ecosystem – including European institutions, passengers, trade unions, industry and associations – to exchange ideas, network and discuss the future of rail.
The journey itself became a space for dialogue and collaboration, with high-level discussions, bilateral meetings and interactive activities covering topics ranging from railway resilience and high-speed rail to freight, next-generation railway systems and the human factor in rail. The journey concluded with a welcome ceremony at Berlin Central Station, attended by representatives of the Berlin Senate.
EPF contributed to the journey with a range of activities putting passengers and their experiences at the centre. These included the European Rail Quiz, the European Rail Ticketing Championship, organised together with Jon Worth and the European Rail Passengers Union (ERPU), and participation in the “Human Railway: Putting People at the Heart of Rail” panel. Once in Berlin, EPF continued the conversation through the Passenger Package panel at InnoTrans, as well as side events and meetings with colleagues and partners from across the European rail community.
🎲 Putting rail knowledge to the test
The European Rail Quiz challenged passengers to put their knowledge of railways and rail travel across Europe to the test. Covering a wide range of topics, the quiz offered a fun way to discover just how much there is to know about Europe’s railways. Congratulations to the top three participants: Albert Pearce, Jon Worth and Jeanne Caverzasio. A special thank you goes to Giorgio Travaini and Jekatyerina Maszlova for helping make the quiz possible and for announcing the rounds over the train’s audio system.
🎟️ The European Rail Ticketing Championship
Together with Jon Worth and the European Rail Passengers Union (ERPU), EPF hosted a Rail Ticketing Championship on board! Teams were presented with a series of real-life European rail journeys and ticketing scenarios and challenged to find the most appropriate ticketing options. The activity highlighted, in a light-hearted and engaging way, the complexity of international rail ticketing – while giving participants the chance to share their knowledge, experience and solutions.
👥 Putting people at the heart of rail
During the “Human Railway: Putting People at the Heart of Rail” panel, hosted on the train, EPF brought the passenger perspective to a wider discussion about the human side of the railway. The panel explored topics including passenger expectations and rights, the new EU Passenger Package, and skills, diversity and equity within the railway workforce. The discussion highlighted the importance of considering both passengers and railway workers when shaping a more inclusive, accessible and future-ready rail system.
💬 Continuing the conversation in Berlin
Once in Berlin, EPF continued its activities at InnoTrans, including participation in the Passenger Package panel on 23 September, as well as numerous side events and meetings with colleagues and partners from across the European rail and passenger community.
The European Train was a great way to kick off a busy week at InnoTrans – combining discussion, collaboration and a little friendly competition, while strengthening connections across Europe’s passenger rail community. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the journey such a memorable start to InnoTrans 2026!
