19 June 2025, Barcelona, Spain – The International Alliance for the pilot test of the +FIRRST system (Fast, Flexible, Integrated Rail-Road System of Transport) was officially launched during SIL Barcelona 2025. ESC Secretary General Godfried Smit moderated a roundtable discussion with shippers and logistics operators, guiding the dialogue, highlighting key points, and facilitating a clear and enriching exchange of ideas among participants.
The roundtable addressed critical aspects of the +FIRRST system from multiple perspectives, with valuable contributions from stakeholders across different sectors.
The event clearly demonstrated that the success of the +FIRRST pilot project depends on the active involvement of all key players: shippers, logistics operators, terminal and infrastructure managers, rail operators, road hauliers, freight forwarders, and business associations. In this regard, it was particularly encouraging to witness the broad and diverse support expressed by these groups, which reinforces confidence in the project’s feasibility and success along the selected corridors.
The forthcoming phase will focus on defining and implementing the pilot test—identifying barriers, proposing solutions, and capitalising on opportunities for improvement. Among the main challenges to address are the flexible, real-time allocation of train paths in line with demand and the development of a shared database that integrates the entire land freight transport chain, from origin to destination.
To achieve these objectives, it is essential to foster a robust and inclusive alliance that brings together all relevant actors in land freight transport. Continued expansion of the Alliance will be crucial for generating sufficient momentum to obtain full support from the European Commission, as well as from national and regional governments participating in the pilot.
For more information about the project, please see here.