How to Finance EU Commercially Driven “Open Access” Long-Distance Passenger Rail Rolling Stock, Both Cross-Border and Domestic
The EU Commission or EU Member States as rolling stock assets managers is not the solution. Instead, the involvement of more private investment will help to both finance and operate a higher number of long-distance passenger rail departures and meet the growing demand for passenger rail services.
EU Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity in the Single European Railway Area
ALLRAIL welcomes the EU Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on the Use of Railway Capacity in the Single European Railway Area (SERA). This proposal comes at a timely juncture to amend and complement Directive 2012/34/EU in order to take into account major developments that have occurred in European rail transport since the adoption of the aforementioned Directive.
Creating a single European rail capacity market – RUs´ position on unified processes
Railway Undertakings – organised in FTE, ERFA and Allrail – consider the single European market as a necessary ambition to allow seamless domestic and cross-border traffic making running a train as easy as running a truck or a bus.
Therefore, to improve customer services, reduce the hurdles for cross-border trains, and for business expansion, RUs ask IMs and policymakers for the creation of a real single European rail capacity market, without specific national standards. The goal is that the capacity planning is done the same way all over Europe, no matter if on one IM network or across several borders. This shall be supported by a harmonised European legal framework.
Efficient digitalisation to support European rail capacity management – RUs´ position on IT in capacity management
Railway Undertakings – organised in FTE, ERFA and Allrail – consider efficient handling of the capacity management process as key to improving quality and reducing costs. With increasing traffic volumes and TCRs, the increased data flow requires modern, customer-oriented IT support across Europe.
The goal of RUs therefore is to have efficient backing by the IT landscape of IMs, aligned across Europe, making no difference between national and international traffic, covering all capacities and all process steps using end-to-end standards.
Providing the capacity which and when the market needs it – RUs´ position on market-oriented capacity management
Railway Undertakings (RUs) – organised in FTE, ERFA and Allrail – consider suitable timetables as the essential basis for providing satisfying services to rail freight and passenger customers.
Therefore, the goal of rail infrastructure capacity management is to provide the necessary quantity and quality capacity for all traffic needs at the time when it is required by the customers. With existing capacity processes not fulfilling all these needs, RUs ask for a common, European-wide improved process, supported by the necessary legal framework.