On 8 October 2025, RailData marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant IT Workshop and celebration in the beautiful city of Porto, Portugal. This milestone event brought together key stakeholders from across the European rail freight sector for a day of insightful discussions, collaboration, and innovative thinking, reinforcing RailData’s pivotal role in shaping the future of rail freight.
A Legacy of Innovation and Collaboration
Founded on 23 March 1995 in Bern and officially established under the International Union of Railways (UIC) in October 1995, RailData has been a cornerstone of the rail freight industry for three decades. Evolving from early UIC IT projects like HIPPS and DOCIMEL, RailData introduced transformative systems such as ORFEUS (launched in 1996 for electronic consignment note exchange) and ISR (taken over in 2004 for wagon tracking across Europe). These systems have streamlined operations, enhanced service quality, and driven sustainable growth through data sharing, standardization, and digital innovation. The Porto event celebrated this legacy while highlighting recent achievements and setting the stage for future advancements.
Event Highlights
The afternoon program kicked off with a warm welcome lunch, followed by a RailData presentation covering its history, current initiatives, and vision for the future. Guest speakers from Lusis (RailData’s key IT supplier), RailNetEurope (RNE), and 4L Technologies shared valuable insights on digital transformation and data-driven solutions. A dynamic panel discussion, featuring Mahesh Bhatter (DB Cargo and RailData Chairman), Christophe Lemaire (Rail Logistics Europe and RailData Vice-Chairman), Petr Červinka (ČD Cargo and ISR Assembly Chairman of RailData), Harald Reisinger (RailNetEurope), André Benayoun (4L Technologies), and Guillaume Murawa (International Rail Transport Committee), explored challenges and opportunities in modernizing rail freight networks.
The day also included an interactive quiz, fostering engagement among participants, and culminated in a memorable team-building activity—a Tuk-Tuk Challenge through Porto’s historic streets. Teams navigated the city using iPads to decode QR codes, enjoying Port wine tastings and the iconic Pastel de Nata along the way. The evening concluded with an anniversary dinner at Postigo do Carvão, celebrating RailData’s achievements and the spirit of collaboration.
Looking Ahead
The Porto workshop underscored the power of unified action in driving efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in European rail freight. Follow-up ISR and ORFEUS Expert Meetings the day after continued the momentum, aligning on next steps for the priorities set during the event.
A heartfelt thank you to all who attended and contributed to making this event a success. Stay tuned for more updates as RailData continues to connect technologies and stakeholders to shape the future of rail freight.
