{"id":3478,"date":"2026-04-16T11:03:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T09:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/logistics-service-providers-and-shippers\/rail-talent-of-the-year-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:03:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T09:03:33","slug":"rail-talent-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/logistics-service-providers-and-shippers\/rail-talent-of-the-year-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Rail Talent of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe future of the transport sector lies in the interplay between the modalities\u201d<\/p>\n

About 75 percent of the regulations facing the transport and logistics sector in the Netherlands originate in Brussels. To exert influence on this, Robbe Van Grembergen represents Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) at the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, and sits on various international umbrella organizations. \u201cIt is special to receive the recognition as Rail Talent of the Year. I believe that the future of transport lies in the interplay between modalities facilitated at the European level. But certainly in the field of freight transport, I advocate for rail to play a much larger role.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As a representative of TLN, Van Grembergen looks after the interests of the entire transport chain. \u201cFrom road transport to rail, and from inland shipping to, to a limited extent, air freight transport. Actually, everything except the bicycle,\u201d the lobbyist laughs. \u201cTLN is unique in Brussels in this regard. We look beyond the modalities, whereas most interest groups in Brussels are compartmentalized and focus on a single modality. We, on the other hand, seek connection.\u201d In addition, TLN is fully committed to sustainability. Van Grembergen has therefore restructured the lobbying efforts towards the European Union to prioritize sustainability. \u201cThe Netherlands has become wealthy thanks to transport. The sector is a driving force behind the country\u2019s economy. But to make the sector future-proof, we must become more sustainable. This cannot be achieved by electrifying all road vehicles, as the power grid cannot handle it. We need to organize CO\u2082 reduction more intelligently, and rail plays an essential role in this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Multimodality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Van Grembergen indicates that Europe currently still consists of 27 \u2018rail islands\u2019; it is still too much of a case of every member state acting independently. \u201cRoad freight transport is simple and relatively cheap. Rail is technically complex and expensive. However, TLN advocates for more combined transport. For short distances, rail will never be able to compete with road, but for long international distances, rail must become a good alternative and be included in carriers\u2019 choices. To achieve this, we are seeking European cooperation and innovation.\u201d The lobbyist also sees opportunities in the transport of goods by rail. \u201cCurrent European and national policy still focuses too much on addressing symptoms and insufficiently on structural investments and the preconditions required for them. Think of high operating costs, limited capacity, poor punctuality, and fragmented regulations. With more European coordination, targeted investments in capacity, better harmonization of rules, and a serious drive towards digitalization, rail can become a much more attractive transport option and have a solid business case,\u201d according to the lobbyist.<\/p>\n

Practice and politics<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Rail Talent of the Year, Van Grembergen will continue to work to bring practice and politics together. \u201cThe demand for goods will only increase in the coming years, the number of drivers is decreasing, and we also want to reduce CO\u2082 emissions. To achieve this, road, rail, water, and air transport must not compete with each other but rather complement one another; multimodal deployment is the solution. I actually want rail to become a reflex for road carriers to reduce empty kilometers, as a solution to the driver shortage or to meet climate targets. I will not stop bringing this to the attention of politicians here in Brussels.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Robbe van Grembergen together with the other nominees: Casper Wouters and Bastiaan Bertram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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