Simplified stakeholder tree and weighting matrix of requirements

Ben@Rail intends to provide recommendations for the R&I priorities set in the European Union Rail Joint Undertaking (Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking ERJU) Master Plan. These recommendations are based on the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders of the European railway system. Therefore, if combined with the objectives of the Master Plan, strengthens the effectiveness of EU-funded Research & Innovation (R&I) activities. To ensure this, first it is necessary to identify the currently and prospective important stakeholders that are involved and/or interested in the railway sector. Then, gather the stakeholders’ requirements and expectations regarding the European railway system. Subsequently, the requirements are weighted in order to highlight the different importance for the respective stakeholders.
This document provides a collection of the stakeholders of the European rail system. A total of 13 different main stakeholder categories have been identified. These main categories were further divided into 44 sub-stakeholders. All stakeholders are presented systematically and structured graphically in a simplified stakeholder tree.
For the identified stakeholders, their requirements have been collected, analysed, ordered and weighted. The result of this process is a weighting matrix, which is particularly relevant for the further progress of the project. The weighting matrix consists of 380 major requirements, followed by another 1100 unweighted minor requirements structured in their sub-layers. Over almost all stakeholders, economic requirements in particular, such as low costs or high revenues, are given priority. However, aspects of safety, punctuality, reliability and low emissions are also rated highly.
Furthermore, besides the listed requirements, core requirements were qualitatively derived from interviews with stakeholder representatives, as they were explicitly named in a large number of interviews. Their main concern is the harmonization of cross-border processes in the railway system and the harmonization of national regulations. Especially these fields are seen by stakeholders as powerful facilitations in connection with railway systems. Therefore, from stakeholders’ point of view, the fulfilment of these qualitative core requirements will contribute the best to enable the increase of competitiveness and market share of rail transport.