The Department for Transport Local Government and the Regions today launched
consultation on the European Commission's latest proposals for revitalising
Europe's railways. Comments have been invited by 19 August. The comments received
will help inform the Government's negotiating position in Brussels.
John Spellar said:
'We share the Commission's objective of improving the quality and efficiency
of rail services, so that rail can play an increased role in the transport system,
and help tackle road congestion and pollution. There is much that we can welcome
in these new proposals.
The proposed completion of liberalisation of rail freight would provide new
opportunities for UK firms in continental markets and increase competition in
those countries that still restrict access, reducing costs and improving services
to customers. Better integration of Europe's railways through harmonised technical
rules is also something we can welcome in principle. But harmonisation can impose
costs too, so we will need to be sure that the benefits of the proposed measures
are clear and fully justify any costs. This consultation exercise will help
us to identify where we should be most supportive, and most cautious, in the
forthcoming negotiations.
' The proposals cover:
· Accelerated completion of the liberalisation of the rail freight market,
so that freight train operators have freedom to operate domestic or international
services anywhere in the EU;
· Further measures to promote the interoperability of EU rail systems
- i.e. the use of common technical specifications to promote greater competition
and economies of scale in the railway supply industry and to make it easier
for trains to operate across different national networks;
· A harmonised system of railway safety regulation based on national
safety authorities, separate national accident investigation bodies, and common
safety methods and targets;
·The creation of a European Rail Agency as a technical body staffed from
the rail industry to co-ordinate work on developing proposals for harmonised
technical specifications and safety rules - for formal decision by the Commission
and Member States.
· A mandate for the European Community to become a party to the Convention
on International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) - a long standing intergovernmental
agreement between forty countries, which facilitates international freight and
passenger rail traffic.
The Commission's Communication also indicates that they will bring forward
further measures to improve the quality of freight and passenger services over
the next three years.
http://www.press.dtlr.gov.uk
