European Union Railway Liberalisation

Abstract

The proposal on compensations in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services14 has been re¬jects by the European Parliament. This system could increase costs for rail freight services and distort competition with road transport. As the legis¬lative report by Roberts Zile(UEN, LV) argues, "the compensation system would not improve standards in the industry, and existing international legislation is already imposing strict enough rules on rail, far more than equivalent regulations on road transport. Rather than imposing more regulations and fines, the emphasis should be or easier market access for new rail companies so as to increase competitiveness".