One of the important measures for consolidating the common transport policy consists in guaranteeing and observing the railway passengers’ rights and improving quality, punctuality and the efficiency of the services provided to passengers in order to increase the market share of railway transport compared to other transport modes. The quality of railway passenger transport services is an aspect with a higher importance over the next years.
The main objective of the European Union’s transport policy is to establish an internal market for transport contributing to a high degree of competitiveness and the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities. The 2011 Transport White Paper stated that rail should account for the majority of medium-distance passenger transport by 2050.
This modal shift would contribute to the 20 % reduction of greenhouse gas emissions provided for in the Europe 2020 Agenda for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The White Paper concluded that no major change in transport would be possible without the support of an adequate rail infrastructure and a smarter approach to using it.
The European railway transport systems and networks are still different and most of them operate according to distinct particularities and specifications adapted to national needs. Their harmonisation based on a common denominator is not simple to achieve and perhaps it will not be simple over the next decade either.
Maybe that is why the first three railway packages have not managed to shape a common area for the railway transport activity in Europe. Debates on the topic, especially those referring to the rights of railway passengers, liberalisation, interoperability, infrastructure investments, and the modal shift of freight or the mutual acceptance of rolling stock have been troublesome, yet a common denominator, an algorithm valid across Europe, could not be established. The European Commission, with the support of interested parties, tries to solve in practice the problem of European transport system harmonisation by proposing a number of 6 legislative projects, those composing the already well-known Fourth Railway Package. The Commission believes that this legislative package will complete the process. One of these legislative proposals refers to the amendment of Regulation 1370/2007.
At the end of October, the European deputies signed a report on the consolidation of the passengers’ rights stressing the obligation of companies to better inform passengers.
A single draft regulation on the rights of passengers, for all transport modes, has to be achievable on the medium term and it is essential to promote intermodality. Currently, there are no premises for this. That is why, Rapporteur Georges Bach, the initiator of this project, demands the Commission to propose corresponding guidelines on condition that these guidelines would not diminish the rights of passengers as far as the diversity of transport modes is concerned.
At the beginning of October, CER and the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT) published the “Report of the Railway Sector on the implementation of Regulation 1371/2007”, indicating the measures adopted based on the Regulation on the rights and obligations, such as the best practices which exceed certain requirements included in the Regulation.
“By offering a common discussion platform for railways and national enforcement bodies, we want to contribute to the quality of the services offered to rail passengers. That is why we also decided to continue offering all respective actors a useful forum to exchange ideas and at the same time an opportunity to network and make contacts across borders. In a year from now, we will be happy to gather again all stakeholders to a second workshop on rail passengers’ rights”, Libor Lochman, CER Executive Director, stated at a workshop organised by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the International Rail Transport Committee (CIT)
“The European dimension to the Rail PRR means that the approach must be at a high-level although taking national differences and the exemptions allowed by EU Member States into account. The CIT and CER are convinced of the value of interpreting and applying the Rail PRR across the European Union in the most uniform way possible”, Cesare Brand, CIT General Secretary, pointed out.
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