About us | ALLRAIL - The Future of Passenger Rail

About us

Who we are

WHO WE ARE

About Our Association

The Alliance of Passenger Rail Companies (ALLRAIL) is the global non-profit association (NGO) of independent passenger rail companies.
Based out of Brussels, Belgium, ALLRAIL has the status of an official representative body for the rail sector since 2019. Click here to consult ALLRAIL's statutes.
More competition has been proven to lower fares, improve service quality, increase frequencies and drive modal shift to rail, for the benefit of the environment.

MISSION

ALLRAIL Seeks Fair Competition And Market Opening

The current modal share of passenger rail does not suffice to achieve global climate goals.
Passenger rail must become more innovative and attractive than other less sustainable modes of transport. The solution is to introduce non-discriminatory conditions and real competition.
In the limited examples of rail market opening so far, it has led to positive results: better quality, reduced fares, new jobs, greater efficiency, and modal shift to rail.

CHALLENGE

Passenger Rail Should Be the Backbone Of A Multimodal Network

Discrimination against independent passenger rail companies frightens desperately needed private investment away from the rail sector.
Such discrimination mainly concerns access to the neutral infrastructure of passenger rail (tracks, rolling stock, ticketing systems & more).
All competitors should have fair access to this infrastructure. Competition should instead be about which company makes the best use of it, for the greatest benefit of the passengers.

VISION

‘Rail Transport As A Service’, Driven By Passenger Needs

Our vision resonates with the EU 4th Railway Package: encouraging competition and innovation the passenger rail sector.
Our members have demonstrated that it has been possible to introduce new services, improve the rail ticket booking experience and consequently achieve modal shift to rail.
Now we need to be able to roll out these examples on a European and worldwide scale to achieve a truly integrated, competitive, and efficient rail network.

For the Future of Passenger Rail

Secretariat

Nick Brooks

Secretary General

Global Rail Policy, External Relations

nick.brooks@allrail.org +32 472 37 10 22

Nick leads ALLRAIL and works with members and policymakers to promote real competition in the European and global rail market.

John Thomas

Policy Director

UK Rail Policy

john.thomas@allrail.org +44 7979 851461

John promotes real competition across the UK railway sector. He also brings a UK perspective to ALLRAIL’s European policy work and supports its international activities.

Guillem Ochoa i Pérez

Legal Officer

Capacity Management, PSO & Open Access

guillem.ochoa@allrail.org +32 479 07 08 06

Guillem works to ensure infrastructure access on equal and predictable terms, competitively tendered public service contracts and open access.

Eoin Rollins

Policy Officer

Ticketing, Rolling Stock, Interoperability

eoin.rollins@allrail.org

Eoin promotes equal access to ticket distribution, rolling stock, maintenance and financing. He works to remove technical barriers to operating trains worldwide.

Soizick Menais

Operations Manager

Operations, Communication, HR

soizick.menais@allrail.org

Soizick manages ALLRAIL’s operations, HR and finances. She also manages communications, publications and the association’s website.

Arthur Kamminga

ALLRAIL Benelux Representative

Benelux Rail Policy

arthur.kamminga@allrail.org

Arthur is a legal expert committed to a fair and competitive European rail market.

Barbora Lovecka

Special Adviser

Regulators, Implementation, EU Affairs

barbora.lovecka@allrail.org

Barbora works with rail regulators across Europe to promote real competition and consistent application of rail regulations.

Marlo Mack

Communications intern

Communication, Events

marlo.mack@allrail.org

Marlo helps organise ALLRAIL’s events and supports its communications, website updates and publications.

Board of directors

The Board of Directors is elected by a General Assembly of member company representatives. The Board meets four times a year and has ultimate decision-making powers for the management and administration of the Association.

Elmer van Buuren

President ALLRAIL

Founder, Managing Director | European Sleeper

Elmer van Buuren, founder of European Sleeper, a private night train operator, has over 25 years’ experience in the railway sector. As President of ALLRAIL, he advocates competition that benefits passengers and a constructive approach to growing the entire European rail sector.

Erik Hellners

Vice-President ALLRAIL

General Counsel | MTR Nordic Group

Erik Hellners is General Counsel at MTR Nordic, with many years of legal experience, including in corporate and competition law and rail regulation. As ALLRAIL's Vice-President, he advocates real competition and non-discriminatory market access.