On June 18–19, 2025, the historic Pietrarsa Railway Museum hosted the second COLPOFER Symposium, gathering 47 representatives from 21 organizations across 17 countries. Organized by Ferrovie dello Stato, the event provided a platform for collaboration among railway operators, law enforcement, and institutional stakeholders to address emerging security challenges.
The symposium focused on three critical themes: aggression against railway staff and passengers, sabotage of infrastructure, and public order during major events. Opening remarks by COLPOFER President Salvatore Iannicelli and contributions from leading experts, including Francesca Monaldi, the Head of Italian Railway Police, and Christophe Gradel, President of RAILPOL, emphasized the strategic importance of rail security in today’s geopolitical context.
Aggression in the railway environment emerged as a pressing concern, with data showing rising incidents across Europe. Preventive measures such as staff training, public awareness campaigns, and technologies like bodycams and AI-powered CCTV were highlighted as essential tools to protect personnel and passengers.
Similarly, discussions on sabotage underscored the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to low-cost, high-impact attacks. Experts called for stronger intelligence sharing, advanced detection systems, and proactive planning to counter these threats.
Public order during major events was another key topic, with speakers outlining structured approaches combining legal rigor and operational adaptability. Strategies include phased planning, real-time monitoring, and post-event evaluations to ensure resilience while safeguarding civil liberties.
The symposium also addressed broader disaster preparedness, notably Italy’s national plan for volcanic risks in the Campi Flegrei and Vesuvio areas, and examined lessons from the April 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal, which exposed systemic vulnerabilities and reinforced the need for contingency planning and resilient communication networks.
Representatives from the ATLAS network of Police Special Forces showcased a training exercise they participated in, illustrating advanced police tactics, coordinated response procedures and the role of joint exercises in strengthening operational readiness and interoperability among European law‑enforcement units operating in the rail environment.