Notes for Participants

European Transport Conference (ETC) 2024

18 – 20 September Antwerp, Belgium

MOBILE HOTLINE for the on-site queries, please, call +44 (0) 788 1933969 or email sabrina.winter@aetransport.org  For full travel details, please see the end of this document.

Don’t forget to download the Conference App for real-time notifications, direct messaging and timetable updates.

Refreshments

Tea/coffee breaks and lunch are included in the conference fee. Lunch will be served at 1230 – 1400 on Wednesday 18, 1230-1330 on Thursday 19 and 1230-1330 on Friday 20. Please inform Sabrina Winter of any dietary requirements.

WiFi/Internet Access is available at the venue.

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Registration

Registration will take place in the foyer of Antwerp University.

Registration Desk Opening Times:

Tuesday 17 September                     1200 – 2000

Wednesday 18 September               0830 – 1800

Thursday 19 September                   0830 – 1800

Friday 20 September                        0830 – 1200

 ALL delegates and speakers MUST register at the conference registration desk in Antwerp University to collect their name badge and other conference material.

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Identification

Delegates are asked to wear their name badge during the Conference and at evening functions.  This is a useful means of identification and helps delegates to get to know one another.  Entry to the seminars is for badge-holders only.  Badges will be colour-coded: 

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Conference Programme

A timetable will be issued at registration and details of all three days can also be found at:

European Transport Conference Programme (aetransport.org)

Furthermore delegates can install the conference app. See for more details:

Information about the conference app

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Technical Visits and activities

Technical visits should be reserved by email to Sabrina Winter. If you have not received confirmation, it may not be possible to obtain a place once you arrive at the conference. Please meet in the registration desk 10 minutes before leaving.

Urban Logistics Bike Tour Antwerp

Wednesday 18 September

Leaving from the University at 1800 or meet outside Antwerp Central Railway Station at the Starbucks Terrace to join us on a bike trip around the beautiful city of Antwerp.

Limited to 26 places

Cost £21/€25 (Non-returnable)

To book, please contact sabrina.winter@aetransport.org

Mobility Walking Tour Antwerp

Wednesday 18 September

Leaving the University at 1815hrs. The tour will be 50 minutes duration with 20 minutes of walking.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FR5yxxvXG4cRx4hw5

Wander with us through the historical center of a growing city that strives to stay liveable, accessible and safe for everyone. We will show you how the space in our streets is being redesigned at human scale and how new policies make this possible. With a beautiful view of the river Scheldt and the iconic medieval fortress ‘het Steen’, we will explain how we leverage different mobility modes to create a modal shift. This is also where we look at the big picture; how Antwerp will expand its river crossings and restructure the ring road creating large new parks. If you like history as much as mobility, this is for you.

Please note that unfortunately the route is not wheelchair friendly due to cobbled streets and stairs.

ETC Running Club

Thursday 19 September

0700 Start (Conference sessions begin at 9am)

We have a fantastic 5km jogging loop planned around Antwerp for those wanting to get out and see a bit more of Antwerp but don't have the time to dedicate longer to sightseeing. The run takes in the old and new sights and is a great place to meet old and new friends. 

Please note that this is a peer-led event where the organisers have no official qualifications but enjoy the company of others whilst running. Participation in this event is at the participants own risk.
Duration: 40-50mins  
Meet: Outside the front of the conference centre on Lange Winkelstraat (https://maps.app.goo.gl/2tzS7o1agkSEHHLf8)

Organiser: Oliver Charlesworth (oliver.charlesworth@bentley.com)

Route: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6036171766/ (anti-clockwise)

Antwerp Central Railway Station Visit

Friday 20 September

Departure 1245 hrs from the University

The tour starts at Antwerp Berchem station, with a visit of one Belgium’s biggest rail signpost hubs. After a technical explanation of how rail signposting works and the tools used, the group moves to Antwerp Central station, for an explanation of the history and functionality of the historical station and its current-day use.

To book, please contact sabrina.winter@aetransport.org

Oosterweel Connection Antwerp Visit

Friday 20 September

Departure 1330 hrs from the University

The excursion takes place at the new viewpoint created for the Oosterweel works, which is Belgium’s largest highway project of the last 50 years, closing the Antwerp northern ringway. The project involves road but also public transport, bike and pedestrian sub-projects, and is meant to strongly reduce congestion and its side-effects, and to ensure a good accessibility of Antwerp and its seaport.

To book, please contact sabrina.winter@aetransport.org

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Social Programme

There will be various social networking activities available for delegates to take part in throughout the conference.

Pre-conference drinks

Tuesday 17 September 1830 – 2000

Venue: University of Antwerp Exhibition Area

Civic Reception

Wednesday 18 September 1900 - 2000

Venue: Het Steen

Address: Steenplein 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Het Steen | Visit Antwerpen

Conference Dinner with Pre-Dinner Drinks

Thursday 19 September 1945 -2215

Venue: Grand Café Horta & Art Nouveau Hall

Address: Hopland 2, 2000 Antwerpen.

The venue’s website can be found here

Dietary restrictions must be notified in writing to sabrina.winter@aetransport.org.

The Association for European Transport would like to thank the following organisations for their involvement in the success of the Conference and bringing us to Belgium.

The following will be exhibiting at ETC

ETC 2024 Sponsors:

Award for the best paper written for and presented in the Planning for Sustainable Land Use and Transport seminar – Goudappel

Transport Modelling Session                                                        PTV Group

Paper Demonstrating the Most Innovative Use of Date             Jacobs

Lanyard Sponsor                                                                            Jacobs

Conference Supporter                                                                   Accent

Conference Supporter                                                                   ECTRI

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Abstracts and Papers

The abstracts and papers will be available to download two weeks before the conference.  To be accessed from www.aetransport.org  to those who have registered as a user. Full instructions will be sent to all delegates when the abstracts and papers are available.

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Where to Stay in Antwerp

This year we have some rooms available with special discounts at a selection of hotels. Many thanks to the team at the Antwerp Convention Bureau for their assistance in organising this. More information can be found on the page Where to stay in Antwerp

Accessibility / Dietary Requirements

Please inform Sabrina Winter if you have any specific accessibility or dietary requirements before the conference, as venue liaison will be required.

Conference Personnel

There will be conference staff available on the day to help with queries, please look out for the purple coded badges.

Medical Cover

Delegates are advised to take out travel and medical insurance.  Those from EU countries will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to obtain health care in Belgium. The card can be obtained from government health departments in all EU countries.

Visas and Entry Requirements

Delegates who will need a Visa to attend the Conference should ensure they apply early to the Belgian Embassy in their country, as the processing of visas can take some time. The Association will write letters in support of Visa applications but only for those who have booked and paid for their conference place. Delegates who need a Visa should contact Sabrina Winter at sabrina.winter@aetransport.org to discuss.

Feedback

We welcome all feedback from delegates, as it helps us to shape the content, style, and organisation of our events. A questionnaire will be emailed to you after the conference asking for your comments on the content of the conference, its relevance to needs and expectations and the overall administration.  We would be very grateful if you could complete this questionnaire as soon after you receive it as possible, as your feedback and views are very important to the future of the European Transport Conference.

Travel Details

Arriving by Public Transport 

University of Antwerp

Stadcampus Building R

Prinsstraat 13

2000 Antwerp,

Belgium

Antwerp is easy to reach by train. International railway lines such as Thalys and Eurostar link Brussels and Antwerp to several other major European cities. Plan your trip with the Belgian train route planner. You can also travel to Antwerp with international bus lines such as Eurolines or Flixbus.

Reaching the campus from Brussels Airport

By train

Time schedules and fares are available on the Belgian Railways website.

By bus
Travel from Brussels Airport Zaventem to Antwerp with Airport Express. There are two stops in Antwerp:

·        Franklin Rooseveltplaats (Platform B5 - next to the opera house and 400 metres from the central train station)

·        Crowne Plaza Hotel (Gerard le Grellelaan 10, Antwerp)

Reaching the campus from Brussels South Charleroi Airport

From Brussels South Charleroi Airport, you can take a bus to the Charleroi train station and travel to Antwerp by train. Check the time schedules and fares on the website of the Belgian Railways.

Eindhoven Airport - The Netherlands

From Eindhoven Airport, you can catch a train from Eindhoven station to Antwerp Central. The journey will take from 1.30 – 2 hours. Check ticket prices and times here. There is also a Flixbus service that operates once a day at 12.55pm to Antwerp Roosevelt which will take approximately 1.05 hours.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - The Netherlands

From Schiphol Airport, you can travel to Antwerp Central Station by train. Click here to book tickets and for times.

Traveling from Antwerpen Centraal station to the campus

To Stadscampus: around 15 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by bike.

The conference venue is Building R (Gebouw R) of the campus. The location in Google maps is given here: Conference venue

Any specific enquiries should be directed to:

Sabrina Winter, Contract Manager AET European Transport Conference, Training for Transportation Professionals, Forester House, Doctors Lane, Henley-in-Arden, B95 5AW, UK.

Telephone:           +44 (0) 1564 793552   Option 2                                      sabrina.winter@aetransport.org

Street map for Antwerp University

Metro links for Antwerp