▶ A recent study published the EU Commission shows that the number of rail passengers in Czechia increased by 154% on all routes with competition between 2011 and 2019.

▶ At the same time, it is one of the few EU Member States where there is:

(1) Separation of incumbent operator and infrastructure manager,

(2) Competitive tendering of Public Service Obligations (PSOs),

(3) The conditions to grow commercially driven Open Access services.

▶ This demonstrates that if the core policies of market opening are implemented, then there is modal shift to rail (!)

Since 2011 in Czechia, market opening motivated passenger operators to enhance their service offerings:

▶ The EU Commission’s study not only highlights a notable reduction in rail fares, e.g. a 20% decrease observed on the route between Prague and Ostrava …

▶ … but also an improvement in the on board services offered by all operators (free Wi-Fi, power sockets and more) – both at new entrants and the historical operator.

ALLRAIL Policy Assistant Nicolas Bruyninckx says: “Thanks to market opening, Czechia is a Hidden Gem – with one the best passenger rail systems in Europe.”

Evidence shows that if the core market opening policies are implemented – such as those in points (1), (2) and (3) above, then you end up with more people taking the train – a crucial result if the EU is ever to meet its climate change goals.