Boosting the rail sector

On 12 December, EU transport ministers reached a political agreement on a proposal that should turn the railways into a more effective and competitive mode of transport. The Council will now enter into negotiations with the European Parliament to seek agreement on a final text.

© Fotolia

The new directive on a single European railway area aims to clarify and modernise the regulatory framework for Europe's railway sector so as to enhance investment, improve market supervision and increase competition. It amalgamates, updates and simplifies three legal acts - the "first railway package" adopted in 2001 - which set in motion the gradual liberalisation of the railway sector at European level.

The changes introduced by the new text include:

- more transparent conditions for access to the rail market
- provisions to guarantee non-discriminatory market access
- strengthening the independence of national regulatory bodies and their powers, for instance to impose sanctions or audits
- enhanced cooperation between regulators on cross-border issues
- new rules to improve the financing of the rail infrastructure.

This boost to the railways should help to increase their share of the transport market, thus promoting a means of transport which is more environmentally-friendly.

More information:
Draft directive as approved by the Council on 12 December 2011 (political agreement, full text in pdf)
Press release (pdf) - covers the whole meeting
European Commission webpages on railway markets