European policy

For better integration of the European rail network

The construction of the trans-European transport network is connected with the development of the Single Market and contributes to strengthen the economic and social cohesion. It is a major element in economic competitiveness and the balanced sustainable development of the European Union.

Highlighting the advantages of rail

The development of rail freight is a major challenge for the transport sector in the European Union. This mode of transport actually has major advantages. Rail is non-polluting and safe and it is a competitive alternative to road haulage in certain market sectors, especially for large volumes of freight and long distances. The trend towards containerisation is an opportunity to develop it further. However, expansion is constrained by the shared use of the infrastructure with passenger traffic and, more specifically, by the lack of interoperability and operational rules harmonisation.

For a rail network giving priority to freight

Given this situation, the European Commission has launched a series of initiatives over the past fifteen years with the aim of revitalising the rail freight sector.

These measures have focussed on :

• the organisation of the freight sector: gradual opening of the rail freight market to competition and a totally free market since 2007
• the building of new infrastructures that provide structure a single European network, through the Trans-European Network - Transport (TEN-T)

The revitalisation of rail freight is one of the top priorities for the European Union's transport policy as outlined in the "White Paper on Transport" published in 2001 and the corresponding mid-term review in 2006, "Keep Europe Moving".
Convinced that action must be taken at European level, the European Commission is now giving priority to a corridor-based approach.

Significant dates

2001 : The White Paper: "European transport policy for 2010: time to decide" sets out 60 practical measures designed to bring about significant improvements in the quality and efficiency of transport in Europe by 2010 ad envisaged the creation of "multimodal corridors giving priority to freight". Removing the bottlenecks and building the missing links in the infrastructure for all modes of transport is essential in order to improve the quality of life of all European citizens.

February 2001 : the First Railway Package aiming at creating fair and non-discriminatory access to railway infrastructure, starting with international freight transport

April 2004 : the Second Railway Package, containing three pieces of legislation with implications for railway interoperability and safety management which member states have to incorporate into domestic legislation within two years :

• Interoperability Amendment Directive
• Railway Safety Directive
• European Rail Agency Regulations

March 2004 : the Third Railway Package, containing measures to revitalise the European railways. The package consists of a Communication, four legislative measures and a Working Document on an extended impact assessment for the gradual opening up of the market for international passenger services.

October 2007 : "Keep freight moving": the European Commission launched a series of initiatives aimed at increasing the efficiency and sustainability of freight transport in Europe. The proposals focussed on :

• logistics
• a rail network giving priority to freight
• European ports

December 2008 : The European Commission proposed a regulation concerning a European rail network for competitive freight.

This initiative aims at improving the quality of international rail freight transport in Europe. It proposes the creation of international rail corridors on which some rules should be applied :

• better coordination of the investments and maintenance works
• drawing up of an investment plan
• development of strategic terminals
• improvement of the management of the freight corridors: priority given to some categories of freight, train paths allocated to freight trains, one stop shop per corridor for request for international train paths.

These corridors should be market-oriented and managed through a governance body composed by IMs. In order to measure the quality of service, the governance body should define some performance indicators. The creation or modification of freight corridors should be proposed by the Members States to the Commission. The freight corridors should fulfil the following criteria: be part of the TEN-T, allow the significant development of freight traffic, justified by economic evaluation, be supported by an implementation plan.

2010 :

• End February: Official transmission of Common position to Parliament
• 1st March: Exchange of views in TRAN Committee
• End March: Marinescu Draft report
• 13th April: Deadline for amendments
• 4th May: TRAN vote
• Mid-June: Plenary vote

In order to meet this schedule, the list of corridors will have to be negotiated separately to all other issues. Indeed, as confirmed by several liberal members (Bilbao, A-C Desnuel), the list of 9 corridors proposed by the Council remains the most contentious debate between Parliament and Council. Compromises could easily be struck on One Stop Shop, Governance Body or investment planning. Even on capacity reserve and priority rules, the rapporteur and his negotiating team envisage the following: "A more ambitious wording could be reintroduced in the text, which would at the same time preserve the flexibility aimed by both institutions (principles and contingency plans to be reintroduced, specific focus on freight traffic and distinction between standard traffic and priority freight...)".

 Download the document related to the document approved on February 10 in first reading by the Council