The European Year of Railways – What does it mean for our agency?

The EU has declared 2021 the “European Year of Railways” to promote more frequent use of the train, which is a safe and environmentally friendly means of transportation. Several activities have already been planned to promote railway transport across the EU to encourage its use by citizens and businesses. But what does this mean of the workforce in this industry sector. And what does it mean for our agency?

The COVID-19 epidemic has shown us that, in exceptional situations, essential goods such as food, medicine and fuel can be transported quickly by rail.

The railway sector has been severely affected by the crisis, with the number of passengers falling substantially due to travel restrictions. However, it will have to play a role in achieving a sustainable recovery from the pandemic.

The year 2021 is essential for EU railway policy, as it is the first full year in which the rules of the fourth railway legislative package apply. This package aims at creating a fully integrated European Railway Area, removing remaining institutional, legal and technical barriers and supporting economic growth.

A variety of actions put rail transport in the spotlight, on the entire continent, thus marking the European Year of Railways. The European Commission’s initiative highlights the benefits of the railway as a sustainable, intelligent and safe means of transport. Rail transport is beneficial both for tourists and commuters, as well as for businesses and freight carriers who can choose the railway to transport their goods throughout Europe.

The railways connect Europe. In the EU, railway transport is responsible for less than 0.5% of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. This makes it one of the most sustainable forms of transport of people and goods. Among other benefits, rail transport is safe, connecting people and businesses across the EU through the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

The European Year of Railways is creating an impetus to help increase the share of rail in passenger and freight transportation. This will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from transport activity at the EU level, making a major contribution to the EU’s efforts under the European Green Agreement.

For recruitment agencies like ours, active in the railway sector personnel placement of skilled and unskilled blue-collar workforce, it is important to connect ourselves to better training systems and better understanding of the ways in which the industry as a whole changes and modernizes. The European Year of Railways means also massive investments plans in railway infrastructure which also means movement of personnel and capital, a high demand of workforce while facing current challenges such as infections of Covid-19 among cohorts of workers, identifying the right people for the right projects or recruiting younger generations. Companies in this sector need to focus on training and media coverage to attract young people to work, especially in areas where there is or is an acute shortage of staff. Nonetheless, rail transport gains ground, as companies want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.