Rail Freight Corridor NL - CZ final version - International ...

Rail Freight Corridor NL - CZ
Drážní úřad
The Rail Authority has been established by Section 53 of the Act no. 266/1994 Coll., as
amended on rail systems. It is an administrative authority independent from the Ministry of
Transport. It is an organisational element of the State with a registered office in Prague. The
Rail Authority is independent from the Ministry of Transport and is financed from the state
budget through the budget of the Ministry of Transport.
Clients are rail transport operators, railway infrastructure operators etc., keepers of private
wagons, railway undertakings and producers of rail vehicles.
Autonomy of organisation: the Rail Authority exercises the function of state administration in the
matters of rail systems except matters in which the Ministry of Transport or the municipalities
are responsible.
The Rail Authority is responsible for issuing official permits for the operation of rail systems and
for licensing to railway undertakings. It also issues safety certificates for carriers, for operating
the rail transport on the national railway network and regional railway network, driving licence
for drivers of rail vehicles, operability certificate of specified technological pressure, gas,
electric, lifting and transport equipment and certificates of vehicle operability. The Rail Authority
is also responsible for registers of rolling stock, infrastructure and vehicle keeper marking.
The Rail Authority makes the decision when railway undertakings, rail system operator and rail
network the infrastructure administrator do not succeed to reach an agreement on matters
concerning the manner of railway operation, infrastructure allocation, infrastructure charging,
network statement, contractual party’s obligations, and so on.
ČD České dráhy, a.s.
is according to Act No. 77/2002 Coll. mainly the biggest passenger and freight operator. Based
upon mutual agreement between SŽDC and ČD, Czech Railways conducts other activities, in
particular:
• ensures operation – e.g. it means that all train dispatchers, pointsmen etc. are employees of
Czech Railways;
• organization of transport, capacity allocation – in particular to accept requirements of all
operators (RUs) for path allocation and to compile timetables; these activities are to move
from ČD to RIA during 2008;
• ensuring maintenance – the whole railway network is divided into 13 areas with
administrations that care of maintenance and common repairs. In particular maintenance of
tracks (superstructure and substructure), electric overhead supply systems, signalling,
bridges buildings, tunnels etc. These administrations will be part of RIA from April 2008.
2.2 Subjective barriers (as viewed by organizations)
Interview results and the used questionnaire are attached in Annex 3, 4 and in the Chapter 4
Action Plan.
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