New EU rules, set through the final vote of the European Parliament in July, on the recast of the First Railway Package, allow more competition on the European railway market. The provisions are to become effective by the end of this year and approach three major problems of the railway market.
The first one is strengthening the power of national regulators, the second problem is improving the framework for investment in rail and the third, ensuring fair access to rail infrastructure and rail related services.
“Each Member State should be empowered to reconsider its existing rail sector model, to have sufficient flexibility to pursue reforms within a given model and switch between models, if national conditions so require. The new legislation, on the set up of the Single European Railway Area, should only be proposed if it proves necessary for the development of the European railway market after a thorough analysis”, announced the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) in a set of principles regarding the development of the Single Area.
These topics, the recast of the First Railway Package, the adoption of the long-awaited and yet criticised IV Railway Package, as well as the recent Eurobarometer poll on railway competition were the topics approached by Frank Jost, DG MOVE and responsible for the European Single Railway Area project during his participation at the Railway Days Summit 2012.
Jost recalled that the Eurobarometer poll published in September showed that 36% of the respondents were displeased with the railways and that 71% of the respondents would like more competition in the railway sector. To facilitate better use of EU rail networks, the recast of the First Railway Package clarified competition rules for rail transport firms and rail infrastructure managers. These rules aim to stimulate the supply of international freight and passenger services and to improve their quality. According to the adopted provisions, the independent re-gulators will see that competition is fair.
The main objective of the Fourth Railway Package consists in improving the quality and efficiency of railway transport services by removing the existing barriers and thus encouraging the performance of the railway sector, as well as economic competitiveness and growth.
“The European Commission aims to open the railway passenger transport market to competition, non-discriminatory access for all operators, competitiveness of quality and cost-efficient services and an increased railway safety level”, added Frank Jost.
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