As Europe explicitly moves to defence footing, with fewer certainties about external backing and sharper pressure from rival power blocs, Brussels is increasingly treating rail as a strategic asset — dual-use infrastructure where Military Mobility can justify upgrades that also deliver everyday gains for passenger and freight. Day 2 of the RailTech Europe 2026 conference, taking place in Utrecht on 4–5 March, explores how that new strategic logic is reshaping infrastructure investment, digitalisation and network security across the continent.
The political direction was set last autumn. Speaking in her State of the Union address in Strasbourg last September — just hours after Poland downed a drone, allegedly sent over the border by Russia — EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stated that “Europe must now fight for its place in the world.” The EU was “fundamentally a peace project,” she said, but warned that “the world of today is unforgiving.” For that reason, “a new Europe must emerge.” And in Brussels, that is increasingly translating into policy that treats infrastructure, technology and mobility as strategic defence assets.
With the Commission proposing an expanded €51.5bn for CEF Transport, a tenfold increase in Military Mobility support, and a larger innovation envelope (including €150bn for Horizon Europe), rail is firmly inside that new logic. But for the sector, how Military Mobility will translate into rail-ready programmes remains “hazy,” one industry insider told RailTech: “A funnel is being built — there’s a logic to it — but we’re waiting on a finalised pipeline.”
That strategic uncertainty, where there is abundant political intent, significant funding signals, but incomplete delivery clarity, is the organising theme of Day 2 of RailTech Europe 2026. Under the banner Europe’s Strategic Rail Shift – Digitalisation, Network Security and Military Mobility, the second day of our conference, taking place in Utrecht on 4–5 March, examines how defence-driven priorities are beginning to reshape rail investment, digital rollout and resilience planning across Europe’s network.
Military Mobility as a rail system driver: funding, trade-offs and delivery
Session 1 reframes Military Mobility away from tanks and troop trains, and toward what defence-led prioritisation can unlock for civil rail: faster digitalisation, stronger cross-border interoperability, higher-capacity corridors and more resilient infrastructure. The central question is simple but far-reaching: how can Europe turn defence-driven priorities into everyday gains for passenger and freight?
In the opening keynote, Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director of CER, positions rail as a dual-use backbone of Europe’s security, connectivity and preparedness — with cross-border corridors, links to ports and airports, and long-term capacity investment serving both military readiness and civil mobility. A panel discussion then stress-tests that strategic framing against delivery reality, with UNIFE Director General Enno Wiebe, Volt MEP Kai Tegethoff and other rail leaders examining what the Military Mobility funding uplift can realistically unlock and where constraints remain. Expect a frank debate on what gets funded first, what holds delivery back, and how quickly political intent can be converted into investable, rail-ready programmes.
Defence and dual-use – boosting capacity and infrastructure
Defence and dual-use — boosting capacity and infrastructure shifts from strategy to concrete interventions: removing bottlenecks, strengthening structures, double-tracking and capacity extensions that improve everyday passenger and freight performance while meeting strategic requirements. The underlying issue is governance: how infrastructure managers can embed defence-driven criteria into long-term network planning and Europe’s evolving capacity framework, without distorting civil priorities or creating parallel planning logics that complicate delivery.
Security through digital unity – accelerating ERTMS and interoperability
Security through digital unity — accelerating ERTMS and interoperability focuses on the digital layer of Europe’s strategic rail shift. Fragmented signalling systems and uneven ERTMS deployment remain major barriers to both commercial efficiency and rapid cross-border movement.
The session examines how defence priorities could accelerate ERTMS rollout, strengthen interoperability and raise capacity while improving resilience and protection by design. A panel contribution featuring ERTMS thought-leaders, including CEO of Nordic Signals Thilde Restofte Pedersen, brings an industry view on how digital coherence, autonomy and smart technologies fit into the next phase of network modernisation.
Securing Europe’s rail network – resilience, protection, and cyber defence
Cybersecurity anchors the final session of the day. Dimitri van Zantvliet, Cybersecurity Director and CISO at Dutch Railways (NS), opens the session with a keynote outlining the current and emerging threat landscape, and what it means for rail as critical infrastructure.
The discussion then focuses on delivery and resilience in practice: governance models, supplier coordination and incident preparedness, and how defence-linked funding can be used to build sustained cyber and physical resilience. A panel featuring Eddy Thésée, Vice President Digital & Cyber Platform at Alstom, and Joseph Mager, Manager of Cyber Governance at NS’s cybersecurity directorate, examines how operators and suppliers are adapting to a higher-risk environment.
Why attend Day 2?
Day 2 of the RailTech Europe conference offers:
✔ Insights from policymakers, infrastructure managers, suppliers and security leaders.
✔ Networking with peers driving Military Mobility, dual-use upgrades, ERTMS and cyber resilience.
✔ Practical takeaways on turning strategy and funding into capacity, interoperability and protection.
.With industry collaboration and clear political direction, rail can turn Europe’s defence-driven priorities into everyday improvements for passenger and freight. For anyone tracking how security policy is reshaping the rail system, Day 2 of RailTech Europe 2026 is the place to be. Register now and join the conversation.
RailTech Europe is a 2-day event consisting of a free exhibition and an exclusive conference with a different theme on each day. You can get a ticket for one day, or both. We hope to see you in Utrecht!