The association has existed since 2004. The police and railway guards of individual countries associated in it cooperate in partnership in the field of mutual exchange of information and experience in order to increase safety in international rail transport.

On December 7, 2022, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the Railway Protection Guard joined the structures of RAILPOL, becoming a full member of the international organization, and thus the 19th representative of the European Union.

The RAILPOL organization currently brings together representatives of 19 European Union countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain , Switzerland, the Netherlands) and Great Britain and the United States of America.

In 2007, the Member States of the European Union (EU) signed the Treaty of Lisbon. An important policy area of this treaty allows EU citizens to move freely within its borders. The association’s duty is to guarantee and protect the right to freedom, security and justice.  With this freedom, threats such as pickpocketing, vandalism and graffiti no longer stop at borders, but have become transnational. Organized criminal groups involved in illegal migration, trafficking in people, money, drugs and firearms use the railways as means of transport. Terrorists also use logistics bases, roads and railways to travel around Europe, even if their targets are not in Europe.

RAILPOL has created five working groups dealing with specific topics or issues, thereby improving the exchange of (operational) information and techniques. RAILPOL promotes public-private partnerships and seeks close cooperation with stakeholders
in the rail environment and with international law enforcement organizations, as well as police networks that supervise physical infrastructure in Europe, such as roads, air and water. RAILPOL’s strength is, among other things, direct contact with RAILPOL organizations responsible for rail protection. Any activities that RAILPOL proposes and agrees to can be implemented much easier and more effectively.

RAILPOL is a unique and solid platform for cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the railway environment. Thanks to active members and support from the European Commission, RAILPOL strives to further increase Europe’s safety.