Community of European Railways

Further information

CER’s role is to represent the interests of its members on the EU policy-making scene, in particular to support an improved business and regulatory environment for European railway operators and railway infrastructure companies.

Back in 1988, 14 railway companies felt the need to establish a stronger link with the European institutions in the light of increasingly significant political developments in transport. As a result, CER was founded as an independent group of the International Union of Railways (UIC) with its own offices in Brussels.

CER, representing the vast majority of EU rail business, has always been at the forefront in helping shape rail regulation. CER became an independent body in 1996, and the membership grew quickly to its current level of over 70 railway undertakings, infrastructure companies and vehicle leasing companies.The key areas of policy interest for CER are:

+ Passenger transport
+ Freight transport
+ Infrastructure
+ Sustainability
+ Economic footprint
+ Interoperability and safety
+ Social affairs