Opening of the domestic rail passenger market; Community railway liberalisation SEC(2004)236, COM(2004)139

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.4 / Subcat-No.4.2

4. Internal market

4.2 Internal Market (intramodal): rail

Opening of the domestic rail passenger market; Community railway liberalisation SEC(2004)236, COM(2004)139

Opering national market for freight and passenger transport have been widely support by EU legislation since 1991. Open Europe-wide passenger market encourage greater competition for different railway companies in order to increase the service quality and a dramatical shift of passenger transport to European high-speed rail network. The European Railway Agency have invested millions of euro to promote the interoperability and harmonise technical standards of railway systems.

It aims to
1. Promote the use of environmental friendly railway transport and improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of passenger railway transportation
2. Improve railway passenger transportation service quality by liberalisation of national and international markets
3. Reduce the financial burdens of public service and enhance the integration of Europe-wide railway system management and operations

Significant modal shift to rail for medium-distance passenger transportation by 2050 after completing a European high-speed rail network [2].

Origin and/or destination changes due to a more competitive railway transport service

Reduce vehicle-kilometres and trip frequency due to a more accessible and fast railway transport service

Possible changes in a enlarged railway network

Increase the occupancy rate of railway vehicle

Improve energy efficiency when larger shift to railway transport due to the opening markets and competition of railway operators

[1] European Commission (1996): A strategy for revitalising the community's railways.
[2] European Commission (2011): White paper “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system”
[3] European Commission (2004): Further integration of the European rail system: third railway package.
[4] European Commission (2007): Survey of competitiveness of the EU rail supply industry, final report ITLR-T17297-003.
[5] European Commission (2008): Towards an integrated European railway area
[6] European Commission (2009): Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council Amending, Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community's railways
[7] The European rail industry (2011): UNIFE Annual Report 201