COLPOFER Working Groups constitute member-driven operational communities that address priority security topics across the European rail system, providing a structured environment for operational exchange and coordinated approaches to emerging risks. Participation is a core expectation of membership: each COLPOFER member is required to be active in at least one Working Group. Working Groups meet at least twice per year, with sessions hosted in one of the Working Group member countries or organised in a hybrid format, thereby supporting both in-person operational engagement and broader participation. Intermediate and final outputs are consolidated under the responsibility of the Working Group Chairs, and key findings are presented to the COLPOFER General Assembly to ensure strategic visibility and alignment across the network.
These requirements and working methods are anchored in the COLPOFER Internal Rules. In particular, each Working Group meets as many times as necessary to fulfil its duties and at least twice a year; the Chair may, on a case-by-case basis, involve non-member experts, subject to the applicable approval framework; and, after each meeting, the Chair draws up minutes in English describing new developments, transmits them to the Secretary General within one month, and presents them at the subsequent General Assembly. Working Groups are also designed to remain dynamic: new Groups can be established to address newly emerging and priority topics; for example, three new Working Groups were established in 2025, CER, Freight and Special Transport, and Economic Crime, reflecting the ability of the framework to adapt to evolving security needs.
MEMBERS: SNCB, FTA, SNCF, Gendarmerie Nationale, FS Italiane, SNCF Voyages, LDZ SJSC, NS N.V., PKP, CP, RENFE Operadora, Trafikverket, EUROSTAR, and Railpol.
The Terrorist and Extremist Activities Working Group supports COLPOFER by enhancing cooperation on the prevention of terrorism, extremist violence, and sabotage affecting the railway sector, through the comparison of national measures and the development of common approaches.
MEMBERS: SNCB, SNCF, FS Security, NS N.V., PKP, Renfe Operadora, and SBB, DSB, MAV-Start, ÖBB.
The Graffiti Working Group supports COLPOFER by strengthening cooperation among members and promoting the exchange of best practices to reduce graffiti‑related damage to rolling stock and railway infrastructure, while ensuring effective network protection. The Group encourages a shared approach to graffiti prevention and response and advocates for the recognition of graffiti not only as an economic and operational issue, but also as a security concern, particularly when linked to organised or cross‑border activities.
MEMBERS: ÖBB, SNCB, ČD České dráhy, DSB, SNCF, MAV-Start, FS Security, SNCF Voyages, NS N.V., Eurail Group G.I.E., PKP, ŽSR, SŽ, SBB, EUROSTAR International Limited, and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG)
The Fraud and Ticket Forgery Working Group supports COLPOFER by monitoring trends in ticketing and payment fraud across members and promoting the exchange of countermeasures to limit revenue loss and protect customers. The Group addresses both traditional and emerging fraud schemes linked to digitalisation and evolving ticketing models.
Members: SNCF, FS Italiane, DB
The Freight and Special Transport Working Group focuses on enhancing the security of freight and special transport across the European railway network. Its activities are centred on aligning security policies, operational procedures, and technological requirements along the Trans‑European Transport Network (TEN‑T), with particular attention to sensitive, high‑value, and military transport.
Members:
The CER Working Group supports COLPOFER members in addressing the requirements of the EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive (EU) 2022/2557. Through knowledge sharing and coordinated implementation efforts, it assists members in ensuring compliance with the Directive and in reinforcing the ability of railway entities to prevent, withstand, respond to, and recover from disruptive events.
MEMBERS: SNCB, SNCF, FS Security, SNCF Voyages, and NS N.V.
The Major Events Working Group supports COLPOFER by coordinating communication among members during major international events, with the aim of improving security measures and ensuring timely and effective information exchange. Closely linked to this activity, the Control Room Sub Working Group enhances operational communication between the security control rooms of European railway companies, enabling coordinated responses to incidents during high‑impact events.
Members:
The Economic Crime Working Group addresses the rising risks of financial crime across the railway sector, particularly in large‑scale, long‑term infrastructure and construction projects. Given the complexity and often cross‑border nature of supply chains, these projects face heightened exposure to offenses such as corruption, price‑fixing, invoice fraud, and both internal and external misconduct. The Working Group fosters collaboration among members to identify vulnerabilities, share best practices, and strengthen preventive and detective controls.
MEMBERS: ÖBB, ZRS, Hzi HZ Infrastruktura, and SŽ Slovenske železnice.
The Pan‑European Corridor X Working Group addresses cross‑border security challenges along Corridor X through targeted risk assessment, preventive measures, and case analysis. The Group supports cooperation among railway operators, law enforcement authorities, and other cross‑border stakeholders, underpinned by data and information exchange and the sharing of best practices. Its work aims to enhance situational awareness and contribute to greater security harmonisation across the Corridor.
Members:
The Brenner Group Working Group strengthens cross‑border railway security cooperation along the Brenner corridor, one of Europe’s busiest transit routes, by bringing together railway undertakings and competent authorities. Originally established around 1999, the Group is being revitalised within the COLPOFER framework to continue its core mission of practical, operational collaboration.
Priorities include enhanced information sharing, structured reviews of security‑critical incidents and lessons learned, and the planning and implementation of joint security operations with rail security units and police forces. The Group supports preparedness for events and major gatherings, most notably preparations for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Over this meeting in Rome, Working Group members shared updates on the current security situation in their respective countries, providing an overview of threat trends and operational challenges at European level. The session also focused on Public Access Trauma Kits (PAKs), discussing their potential deployment in railway stations and transport hubs as a concrete measure to strengthen immediate ...
On 15 April 2026, the second meeting of the Working Group on the “Critical Entities Resilience (CER)” Directive was held at the headquarters of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane in Rome. During the meeting, participants shared updates on the transposition and implementation of the Directive in their respective countries, highlighting differences in national governance models as well as common challen...