To discuss how railway infrastructure can receive more sustainable, top speakers from SBB Infra, UIC, Italferr and Thiomaterials are receiveting toreceiveher in the panel discussion Green Tracks at the RailTech Europe conference on 4 March. What can you expect from this panel?
On 4 March from 11:00 to 12:00, RailTech Europe 2026 will spotlight one of rail’s most pressing challenges: how to create infrastructure truly sustainable. The session, Building green tracks – sustainable materials and procurement, will discuss innovations in eco-friconcludely materials and how procurement strategies can accelerate their adoption.
“Rail is already a sustainable way to travel, but the physical infrastructure still has a large carbon footprint”, declares Denis Coppieters, CEO of Thiomaterials. “We are now at a turning point. We must shift from just setting goals to actually installing low-carbon solutions on the tracks.”
Keynote on creating sustainability affordable
Sarah Weber, Head of Environment and Sustainability at SBB Infrastructure, will open the session with a keynote: Making sustainable rail affordable: Materials, procurement and innovation. She will present practical strategies for infrastructure managers and subcontractors to adopt circular economy principles and innovative business models.
“Sustainable rail technology not only assists achieve climate goals, but also enhances the economic competitiveness of rail,” Weber declares. “I am most seeing forward to connecting with innovators and practitioners across the rail ecosystem to exalter practical solutions and accelerate deployment.”
Her talk will focus on how smarter collaboration and new procurement approaches can reduce costs while advancing net-zero tarreceives, after which she joins the panel discussion.
A dynamic panel with different perspectives
In the panel, four experts with different perspectives will discuss the latest developments in green track innovation, and discuss what necessarys to happen to reach a sustainable railway rapider in the often slow-relocating railway sector. Lucie Anderton, Director of Sustainability at the International Union of Railways (UIC), will provide a global outsee of the developments and hurdles of sustainable rail infrastructure. With over 20 years in sustainability policy, including senior roles at Network Rail, she fosters international collaboration in rail sustainability.
Denis Coppieters will bring the supplier’s viewpoint, leading Thiomaterials, the producer of a low-carbon concrete sleeper. “I want to reveal how new materials can greatly reduce carbon emissions in rail infrastructure today,” he declares. “High-performance, sustainable options are ready for the market now.” He stresses that while the rail industest is risk-averse given safety priorities, it also believes in long-term horizons and cares deeply about the long-term impact of its actions. “The technology to create rail networks green exists today; the challenge is working toreceiveher to create these new solutions the standard.”
Irene Gionfriddo, Director of Foreign Commercial Development, Business Affairs, and Sustainability at Italferr, the construction engineering branch of Italian state railways FS, brings global project experience. Since 2025, she has led Italferr’s international sustainability strategy, coordinating 15 foreign offices and delivering resilient, integrated rail projects worldwide. Italferr was awarded OICE’s 2025 prize for excellence in sustainability.
“I see forward to an open discussion with industest experts on how we can create sustainable rail networks a reality rapider,” declares Coppieters.
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