COLPOFER brings together railway security organisations and railway police forces across Europe to protect people, property and assets from disruptive and criminal activities, and to help maintain safety and order in the railway environment. As cross-border mobility grows and threats evolve, effective security requires structured cooperation beyond national boundaries.
Founded in 1980 by a group of European railway companies and railway police forces, COLPOFER was created as a dedicated framework for collaboration, information sharing and joint approaches to shared challenges. With the increasing focus on security within the rail sector at European level, COLPOFER became a Special Group within the International Union of Railways (UIC). Today, COLPOFER supports a shared security culture by enabling trusted exchange of experience and best practices across the European railway system.
Our mission is to strengthen railway security in Europe by enabling trusted cooperation, improving preparedness, and supporting members in preventing and responding to criminal activity and disruptive events across the rail environment, stations, trains, infrastructure and people.
COLPOFER’s governance is led by its President, supported by the Vice‑President and the Secretary General, together with the Board. The current President is Salvatore Iannicelli, Chief Security Officer of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). In line with this leadership, COLPOFER is presently under an FS Presidency, with the Secretariat based at Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. Headquarters in Rome.
COLPOFER’s mission is to strengthen security across the European railway system by promoting structured cooperation, shared responsibility, and a common strategic vision among railway operators, public authorities, and security stakeholders. Through the systematic exchange of information and best practices, COLPOFER supports the development and implementation of harmonised railway security strategies and guidelines, contributing to higher and more consistent security standards across borders.
Acting as a catalyst for transnational and public–private collaboration, COLPOFER works to enhance both tangible security levels and the public perception of safety within the rail environment. By fostering resilient partnerships and forward‑looking initiatives, COLPOFER reinforces the capacity of the European railway system to anticipate, prevent, and respond to evolving security threats, ensuring the continued protection of passengers, staff, infrastructure, and assets in support of broader European and global security objectives.
COLPOFER is instrumental in fostering and supporting trans-border collaboration, in the development and implementation of security guidelines, which serve to improve security standards across the region.
As a proactive force for change, COLPOFER works relentlessly to bolster the resilience of the European railway system, strengthening its ability to respond to evolving threats and ensuring the continued safety of passengers, staff, and assets.
This video presents COLPOFER’s role in strengthening railway security across Europe through cooperation, shared expertise, and a common strategic vision. It highlights how COLPOFER fosters cross‑border and public–private partnerships, supports the development of security guidelines, and contributes to a safer and more resilient European railway system for passengers, staff, and infrastructure.
In this section you can find an overview of the governance framework of COLPOFER, including how the organisation is structured. Governance is based on a clear division of roles between the General Assembly, the decision-making body composed of all members, and the Board, which is responsible for management and strategic steering in support of the priorities agreed by members.
COLPOFER brings together security representatives from railway companies and railway police authorities responsible for surveillance and protection of the railway environment. Members cooperate to strengthen security practices, exchange operational experience and address common challenges across Europe.