The liberalisation of rail passenger transport generates transport continuity in the European area, a process that would implicitly lead to a rising competitiveness and business development. Liberalisation doesn’t simply mean more operators, improved services and the establishment of a regulatory body. The process depends on the access to infrastructure, the implementation of interoperability standards and safety regulations. Investments in infrastructure development and modernisation are absolutely necessary for the continuity of passenger transport, since no operator can provide good and competitive services without an appropriate infrastructure. Moreover, funds allocated to these projects determine higher speeds and lower access charges.
“Freedom of movement is one of the most important rights of European citizens and a modern transport brings a more meaningful contribution to this aspect. I am totally for opening competition which is a beneficial element in all sectors”, declared the European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas during an EP session. For improving the railway network, Siim Kallas said he wanted 40% of the transport budget to be granted to railways. When the railway infrastructure in a country doesn’t allow a quality transport service, foreign operators will not be willing to provide services in the respective country since poor infrastructure means delays which can cause losses to the operator: the passenger is entitled to demand compensations. Moreover, the operator has to ensure safety and security and to pay attention to passengers’ rights. If the rail infrastructure doesn’t allow the operator to cope with its responsibilities, the operator will no longer be encouraged to develop part of its activities on the respective network. In the end, all these factors will negatively impact on competitiveness.
Cabotage also contributes to the continuity of passenger rail transport, since operators are entitled to board passengers in any station located on the route of an international service and disembark them in any other station, including in the stations located in the same member state of the European Union. This applies to all licensed railway companies headquartered in the EU or newly established. However, any member state can restrict the access right of supplying services on the routes covered by a public service contract. However, restrictions can be introduced and justified only where they are absolutely necessary, in order to maintain the economic balance of the national operator.
Another vital factor which helps maintaining the continuity of a public service and improving its quality is critical infrastructures. Critical infrastructure threats can be caused by human acts and these are premeditated or criminal acts, or can have natural causes, such as natural disasters (floods, earthquakes etc.). All these threats can have disastrous effects on critical infrastructure that, once affected, can determine the interruption of transport, usually on the long-term.
For preventing negative effects, the European Union has developed a programme to protect these critical infrastructures. The programme includes several measures that support the improvement of critical infrastructures, as well as the financial resources necessary to an enhanced protection. Moreover, every member state has to check all the identified components of critical infrastructures and adopt the necessary safety measures. Critical infrastructure protection requires massive investments in development and security projects, in the rehabilitation and modernisation of components for an improved and more efficient transport quality.
Transport continuity will also depend on the implementation of new technologies, the development of an integrated information system in security and the elaboration of maps comprising vulnerable infrastructures. If all these projects are implemented and backed by necessary policies, measures and investments, the continuity of passenger rail transport will be ensured.
by Pamela Luică
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