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Today, markets still do not function at their optimum in rail transport, as compared
to other transport modes. In a number of EU Member States, the market
structure fosters effective competition. Some Member States still appear to seek
to protect the incumbent operator from competition despite the fact that both
the aviation sector and the road sector demonstrated the dynamics that can
be set free by competition. Market opening and liberalisation must be pushed
in order to allow rail transport to develop its potential and compete with other
transport modes.
Similarly, the creation of a Single European Railway Area is hampered by the lack
of harmonisation of the different national regulatory environments and of a real
European type authorisation for rolling vehicles. This situation, which results in
high costs for the putting into service of railway vehicles and equipment, is in
stark contrast to that of other transport modes which benefit from a simpler,
harmonised authorisation regime.
Currently, rolling stock with a value of € 1.6 billion is immobilised within Europe
due to lengthy and cumbersome authorisation procedures (600 days on average)
in different Member States.
UNIFE considers the 4th Railway Package should aim to:
01
Enhance the role of the European Railway Agency (ERA), as
outlined in the Position Paper published by CER and UNIFE on
vehicle authorisation 1 ;
02
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04
Simplify and speed up the authorisation process and harmonise
it amongst Member States, with ERA becoming the single
issuing authority for authorisation, ensuring the coherence of
processes and rules;
Enforce the process for cleaning up national rules;
Empower ERA to pro-actively work with non-European bodies
and ensure that European railway standards are adopted
globally, and enable ERA to have an increased role on the global
stage;
1
http://www.unife.org/uploads/CER_and_UNIFE_Position_Paper_on_the_Future_role_of_ERA.pdf
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