(Online) International Forum for Railway Reactivation
CAF invites everyone interested in the development of railway transportation and the transformation of the logistics system in Latin America and the Caribbean to sign up and join online on July 30 and 31 for International Forum for Railway Reactivation—a space for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic vision.
Event date:
July 30, 2025 - July 30, 2025
Online
CAF –development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in partnership with Colombia’s Ministry of Transportation, will bring together ministers, agency leaders, multilateral organizations, academia, and the private sector in Bogotá to explore how railways can become a sustainable, efficient, and strategic driver for the region.
Register and join online for two days of in‑depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities of integrated railway projects that can transform freight and passenger transport across Latin America and the Caribbean, fostering a more competitive and resilient system.
Day one will feature presentations on advancing rail in the region and its role as a sustainable mode of transport, a panel on the cultural impact of trains in Colombia, and sessions on climate finance, state‑led initiatives, and international success stories such as INECO (Spain) and Crossrail (United Kingdom). The day will conclude with a dialogue on railway governance and institutional frameworks.
Day two will highlight Colombia’s progress, the vision of the National Railway Agency, and strategic planning for rail services. It will also cover legal and regulatory frameworks, standardization of infrastructure and rolling stock, digitalization, interoperability, and expansion projects, wrapping up with a conversation on the challenges of railway reactivation in the region and the presentation of key takeaways.
Agenda
Day 1
July 30, 2025
Day 2
July 31, 2025
Welcome
Speaker:
Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF
Opening Remarks
Speaker:
María Fernanda Rojas, Minister of Transportation of Colombia
CAF’s Drive for Railways in Latin America and the Caribbean
Speaker:
Ángel Cárdenas, Manager of Infrastructure for Development, CAF
Presentation: “Railways as a Sustainable Mode of Transport”
Highlighting the social, environmental, and economic benefits of railways and the importance of state policies for efficient investment.
Speaker:
Sergio Vázquez Torrón, President of INECO (Spain)
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion: “The Impact of Railways on Colombian Culture”
Exploring how railway development has shaped Colombia’s history, influencing literature and music.
Speakers:
Javier Ortiz Cassiani, History Expert
Orlando Oliveros, Literature Expert
Juancho Valencia, Music Expert
Moderator: Lucía Esparza Baena, Journalist
Presentation: “Railway Projects as State Projects”
A look at Chile’s approach, where major rail projects are treated as state policies, enabling long-term planning and financing.
Speaker:
Eric Martin, Chairman of the Board, Chilean State Railways (EFE)
Lunch
Presentation: “The Core Values of Railways”
An overview of the key foundations for providing safe passenger and freight railway services.
Speaker:
Iñaki Barrón, Railway Systems Expert and CAF Consultant
Presentation: “The Value of Railways for Attracting Better Financing”
How railway projects act as catalysts for climate-related funding (green funds, green bonds, etc.), improving investment feasibility.
Speaker:
Mike de Silva, Financing Expert, Crossrail (United Kingdom)
Presentation: “Multilateral Financing for Large Transport Projects”
Showcasing the tools multilateral organizations like CAF offer to support major projects and their potential as strategic partners.
Speaker:
Case Study: “Railways as a Tourism Asset”
Examples of how railway itineraries can become tourism destinations and income sources for local communities.
Speaker:
Ana García Pando, Tourist Rail Expert, UIC (Ecuador)
Coffee Break
Presentation: “Governance and Organizational Design”
Showcasing organizational models and examples from developing countries that have advanced their railway structures.
Speaker:
Patrick Ten Have, Governance Expert, Crossrail (United Kingdom)
Panel Discussion: “Institutional Frameworks in the Railway Sector”
National and international authorities discuss the importance of strong governance models.
Speakers:
Ainhoa Zubieta de Piquer, Managing Director of International Business at Ineco (Spain)
Óscar Javier Torres Yarzagaray, President of ANI
Suleyka Aymerich Pérez, Deputy Minister for Administration and Strategic Management, MOPT
Juliana Pineda, Advisor on Railway Infrastructure, Ministry of Transport – Railway Group
Moderator: Sandra Conde, Director of Transport and Energy at CAF
Day 1 Wrap-Up
Summary of key topics and insights from the day.
Speaker:
Iñaki Barrón, Railway Systems Expert and CAF Consultant (Spain)
