EU parliament backs down on rail liberalisation

The European parliament has backed down from calls to open up the EU’s domestic rail markets to competition.

In a key vote in Strasbourg on the “third rail package”, MEPs voted down a proposal to liberalise national railways after meeting strong resistance from France, Belgium and Austria.

The countries which blocked the move all have markets dominated by powerful state monopolies. 

In their vote, however, MEPs said international passenger rail services should be open to cross-border competition by 2010.

The member states have already agreed to international liberalisation, in a bid to boost railway passenger number in the face of stiff competition from airlines.

But parliament is also pushing for enhanced rights for passengers and stricter certification rules for train crews, two points opposed by EU governments.

This makes it likely that the railway package will go into conciliation, with the parliament and council attempting to reach a compromise proposal.

MEPs want to extend a proposal on international passenger rights to apply to domestic passengers, not just the five per cent who use cross-border rail.

Under the rules, passengers could be compensated 25 per cent for an hour’s delay and 50 per cent for a delay of two hours or more.

This is being resisted by ministers, who want to limit compensation rights to international travellers only.

Parliament also wants better access to trains for disabled people, and a designated area on trains for baby carriages and bicycles. 

Finally, MEPs want to extend the certification system for train drivers to all train crews to show they meet professional, medical and linguistic standards.

Centre-right MEP Georg Jarzembowski, who drafted the report on opening markets, welcomed the vote – particularly the point on compensation.

“This will increase the punctuality of trains and improve the attractiveness of trains,” he said.

Liberal MEP Liz Lynne added that the proposal would make trains more accessible for the disabled.

“It is no good making employment accessible, if disabled people can't get to their place of work,” she said.

But the railway lobby expressed concern at the plans on compensation, arguing that this would be best left to the member states.

“One should not forget that the delay compensations benefits already enjoyed in EU-15 countries can not simply be extended to central and eastern European countries,” said Colin Hall, the director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies.

Hall added that there are “practical limits” to setting aside space for passenger equipment, especially due to the need to give priority to customers at peak periods.

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