On 18 October 2024, Dušan Mes, Director General of SŽ, hosted a delegation of the UIC Management Board in Ljubljana. The meeting was attended by high-level directors from the Slovenian Railways’ various entities with whom the UIC team had lively discussions regarding strategic issues, business essentials, and development in Slovenia and the Balkan region.

In depth discussions took place around the research agenda and the region’s involvement in flagship projects such as the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) or ticketing with the implementation of the Sector Ticketing Roadmap. For the latter, UIC and its members are developing a number of tools to support an enhancement in the customer experience in the context of a sustainable and smart mobility strategies. Operational topics were also high on the agenda, especially in areas where UIC’s technical assets facilitate seamless and interoperable cross border exchanges.

UIC Director General François Davenne stressed the fact that “UIC’s action in Europe and in other regions aims to facilitate seamless border crossings for the benefit of members. UIC strongly supports the completion of the TEN-T corridors, with its technical work programme being designed to support this.” He also added that “Beyond both the historical and special relationship that UIC has with SŽ, Slovenia and the Balkan region play a key role in European and Eurasian connectivity and are important participants in creating an efficient European railway network.”

Mes the concluded the discussions by expressing his satisfaction with the meeting and the cooperative work undertaken between the two organisations to date. He expressed his hope that this cooperation would continue to strengthen and lead to new opportunities and noteworthy achievements.