Coorporativa

Mafex will create the Rail Innovation Alliance (RIN) which will aim to establish a powerful collaboration between academia and industry, with the objective of driving a change in innovation in the railway sector and accelerating the adoption of new technologies and products from the research phase to their subsequent application in the market worldwide.

To this end, the RIN will develop three Centres of Excellence trained by Technological Centres members of the Basque Science and Technology Network and Universities based in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in collaboration with the testing and trialling facilities present in the industry.

These centres of excellence will focus on the following areas: (1) Digital systems, (2) Rolling stock and (3) Infrastructure and will offer the possibility of commercialising new products and technologies more quickly, helping the railway industry to place itself in a privileged position in the technological field.

ACCESSIBILITY HAS BECOME A PRIORITY IN THE RAILWAY SECTOR AND THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR ALL, FREE OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS, WITH AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROLLING STOCK ADAPTED TO PEOPLE WITH REDUCED MOBILITY AND EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES TO FACILITATE TRAVEL.
Free mobility in railway systems is a priority for administrations, institutions and companies in the sector. Universal accessibility is one of the objectives governing the projects both, in the new networks, and in the modernisation of existing infrastructure or rolling stock. All this also to comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the current regulations, such as Law 51/2003, of December 2, which in its article 3 defends equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and universal accessibility of people with disabilities (LIONDAU).
At European level, Regulation No. 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishes the rights and obligations of railway passengers at European Union level. The main measures included regarding people with disabilities or reduced mobility are the obligation for railway companies to:
– Facilitate the acquisition of tickets for users, which will have no added cost for people with disabilities or reduced mobility.
– Ensure, as far as possible, the accessibility of trains and the range of railway services available.
Inform people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility about the accessibility of railway services and the conditions of access to rolling stock.
– Provide free assistance on board trains and at staffed stations.
In addition, at the beginning of 2021, the European Council adopted improvements to railway passengers’ rights, a reform aimed at “strengthening the rights of all passengers, in particular those with disabilities or reduced mobility”.
Among the key points, the following stand out:
– The strengthening of the rights of people with disabilities or reduced mobility, as the current exemption of regional trains from most provisions relating to people with disabilities or reduced mobility will be completely eliminated by 2023 at the latest. “From that date, the right to receive assistance when boarding and disembarking from trains will apply to all regional and long-distance trains in the EU.”
– The right to buy a ticket on board if there is no accessible option to buy the ticket in advance.
– The improvement of information flow and staff training.
– The reduction of the minimum notice period for people with disabilities or reduced mobility who need assistance from 48 to 24 hours, and voluntary agreements will be encouraged to shorten these notification periods.
To make accessibility a reality, public transport means and the associated railway industry have been incorporating over the last few years remarkable advances in this field to solve the aforementioned barriers.
“Public transport means and the railway industry have been incorporating over the last few years remarkable advances to make total accesibility a reality”

Rail Live! 2022 will be held in-person from 29th November – 1st December 2022 in Malaga
RAIL LIVE! 2022, THAT TWILL BE HELD IN MALAGA, HAS AGAIN THE SUPPORT OF MAFEX, IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT. AMONG THE MAIN INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS THERE ARE ALREADY CONFIRMED TO DATE, CARLO BORGHINI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EUROPE’S RAIL AND LUCIE ANDERTON, HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY OF UIC.
Rail Live! 2022 will be held in Malaga on the 29th November – 1st December to bring together high-level industry leaders who are driving sustainable development, investment and digital transformation in the Global rail sector.
The organizing entity Terrapinn, that has the support and collaboration of Mafex is excited to present the 2022 Congress edition where new trends in railway transport and the main challenges that the sector will face are to bre addressed for three days.
With 7 different conference tracks representing the different aspects of the rail system including Freight, Mega Projects, Finance and Funding, Metro Rail, Light Rail, Digital Train Control & Telecommunications, Sustainability & Energy, BIM and Digital Transformation, there’s something for everyone.
Digitalization, sustainable mobility and liberalisation are some of the topics that will be addressed by the more than 250 speakers. Attendees will also be able to learn more about the latest technological advances in the exhibition area.
Under the heading “THE RIGHT TRACK FOR A ZERO CARBON FUTURE ”, the event will host an agenda full of panels, presentations, and round tables. The agenda covers all current issues for the future development of the industry, such as: Freight, Mega Projects, Metro Rail, Light Rail, Digital Train Control & Telecommunications, Sustainability & Energy, BIM and Digital Transformation and more.
In addition to these summits the Spanish Symposium will be an opportunity for the industry to be updated on developments and initiatives from key Spanish networks and operators including Renfe, Adif and Metro de Malaga.
Rail Live is pleased to announce a strong international speaker faculty who will be attending the event face-to-face. Some of the confirmed speakers so far are: already confirmed, to date, Mauro Alabuenas, President of Subterraneos de Buenos Aires, Herbert Hui, Finance Director of MTR Corporation, Dyan Crowther, Chief Executive Officer of HS1, Lucie Anderton, Head of Sustainability of UIC, Carlo Borghini, Executive Director of Europe’s Rail.
The event will also count on the presence of top international companies in the sector. The wide national participation stands out, as well as the participation as sponsors of companies such as Grupo CAF, NGRT, STADLER, ABB, Schneider, SIEMENS, teltronic, CYLUS, and many more.
The participation of more than 100 companies is expected , and they will introduce their latest innovation and technological developments.
Rail Live! 2022 has again the support of Mafex, in the organization of the event. Renfe, Adif, as well as the Junta de Andalucia, Ayuntamiento de Málaga, Metro de Malaga, the Spanish Railways Foundation, the Spanish Railways Technological Platform, and ICEX collaborate in the development of the event.
More details about the congress and fair, the speakers and the participating companies on the following website: