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IAA MOBILITY Voices - Conference Special
Interview with Dr. Alexander Ernert
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Dr. Alexander Ernert has a history of expertise as a legal counsel for competition and regulatory law as well as public affairs lead in the transportation and railway industry. After many years of working for Deutsche Bahn AG and Euro Cargo Rail as well as Cargo Beamer AG, Ernert has joined the Trainline team as Director of Government Relations Europe in February 2022.
Dr. Alexander Ernert has a history of expertise as a legal counsel for competition and regulatory law as well as public affairs lead in the transportation and railway industry. After many years of working for Deutsche Bahn AG and Euro Cargo Rail as well as Cargo Beamer AG, Ernert has joined the Trainline team as Director of Government Relations Europe in February 2022.
What does "Experience Connected Mobility" mean to you?
To me, "Experience Connected Mobility" means moving without barrier. It means benefiting from international collaborations that facilitate cross-border travel. It is exactly what we aim to achieve at Trainline by providing travellers with an app that bundles all train, coach and other travel services into one simple experience. The timetable for public transportation in Europe, on which you can immediately and easily book your trip.
What do you hope to achieve at IAA MOBILITY 2023?
We are hoping to raise awareness for the need for a modal shift to rail in Germany and to contribute to this policy with our product. Cars are still the predominant mode of transport, only 20 % of kilometers travelled are done so by train. Considering the political goal of doubling railway passenger numbers by 2030 and the efforts to increase sustainability, the German railway market needs to become more flexible and competitive. The IAA MOBILITY 2023 is the right place to address this issue.
Which essential topic of the future receives too little attention from the public?
It is what most people consider as the most important topic of the future: sustainability. And specifically in this setting, we need to focus on enabling a sustainable means of transportation. But how can we reconcile our desire to explore the world while protecting it at the same time? We are convinced that train and coach services are the answer to this question. However, to ensure that the sector can fully exploit its potential, we need to shift our attention to the improvement of the frame conditions for competitors in the railway market.
In which area of mobility do you see the greatest potential and where do you see the greatest need to catch up?
In the railway sector, for both questions. We are convinced that rail is the most sustainable and future-proof way of travelling. Unfortunately, the German railway system cannot provide seamless cross-border travelling that is as convenient as flying - for now. So, in terms of ticketing solutions, consumer choice, competitive prices, and service quality, there is a lot of catching up to do. Rail travellers don't mind travelling with SNCF, Deutsche Bahn or Trenitalia. They want to use the cheapest or fastest service, the most seamless travel experience and an easy booking process that finds the most suitable programme for their journey. That's what Trainline stands for.
IAA MOBILITY is the leading global mobility platform. It connects innovators from all spectrums of mobility. Who do you want to network with in September and why?
We are planning to benefit from the platform created by the IAA MOBILITY by getting in touch with key decision-makers and stakeholders from politics, associations and other mobility companies that can support our mission to further develop and promote cross-border and multi-operator rail transport in Europe and in national states.
The world is fundamentally changing. Innovation and also the endeavors in the mobility sector are bigger than ever before. What is your vision of the world in 20 years? In our vision, 20 years from now travelling by plane will be out of fashion - not because it is bad for the environment, but because it will be more convenient to take the train or bus. While the car will still stay the most important means of travel, especially for rural areas and multimember families, rail will be an important factor in the right combination of a sustainable travelling mix.