After six months with the FTE Office, Giacomo Fioretta has completed his traineeship and is now starting the next chapter of his professional journey in the transport sector.
We sat down with him to reflect on his experience and what he will take with him moving forward.
Looking back at your traineeship, what kind of projects or activities were you involved in?
During my time at FTE, I had the opportunity to work closely with the office team and support several activities related to capacity management and coordination among European railway stakeholders. One particularly interesting aspect was following the final steps of the political negotiation process of the new Capacity Regulation. In particular, I focused on the evolution of text for the Commercial Conditions (part related to penalties). The FTE office was regularly asked by members to evaluate business consequences of any changes to the text by legislators. I enjoyed the analysis, since even small text details could at the end mean ineffective or unbalanced system with impact of millions of euros. Once the legal text was settled by the European Parliament, Council and the Commission, I continued in the project and worked on a reference book for FTE members. Most representatives come from the service design and business units; thus we aimed to develop in iterative way and overview, what these new rules might mean in practice, and how they might be implemented.
In addition, I had the chance to conduct interviews with several RUs operating in different countries, starting with companies in Italy and Switzerland. I also had the opportunity to take part in a memorable business trip across central Europe by train – visiting Vienna, Prague, Budapest or middle-size towns as Kosice, where I met and engaged with several stakeholders from the railway sector.
What were the most valuable things you learned during your traineeship?
One of the most valuable lessons was understanding how complex and diverse the European railway sector is. Each country has its own operational practices, priorities and challenges, but at the same time there is a strong common effort to improve coordination and interoperability.
Working at FTE allowed me to see how dialogue between IMs and RUs is essential to achieve practical and effective solutions. This experience gave me a much deeper understanding of the railway system and the importance of collaboration at the European level. It also complemented my previous traineeship at RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana), where I experienced a interesting work on the side of an IM.
Can you share some highlights or memorable moments from your time at FTE?
One of the highlights was definitely the opportunity to meet and interact with professionals from across the European railway sector. Participating in meetings, discussions and exchanges with stakeholders from different countries gave me a unique perspective on the industry. At FTE you really meet people from Spain to Romania.
But above all, what made this experience truly special was the FTE office team. Everyone was always extremely supportive, open to sharing their knowledge and willing to help. It was a very positive environment, where our shared enthusiasm for railways made every discussion both inspiring and enjoyable. Furthermore, I felt as a real part of the team, having own responsibilities and deliverables which we used for real negotiations and projects.
What are your next steps after completing your traineeship?
Starting from March, I will begin a new professional chapter as Associate in the team of Capital Projects and Economics: Transportation, Logistics and Infrastructure at PwC Italy in Milan.
I am very grateful for the experience gained at FTE, which allowed me to deepen my understanding of the railway sector and provided a strong foundation for the next steps of my career. I would like to thank the entire office team and the wider FTE community for their willingness to share their expertise. I hope our paths will cross again in the future somewhere along the railway network.