The European Parliament approves new rules for coordinating cross-border rail capacity.

The European Parliament has given its final vote for rules aimed at reducing delays and improving the use of the EU's railway network, through more coordinated infrastructure capacity planning, stronger European oversight, and penalties for infrastructure managers or operators who do not comply with commitments regarding allocated routes.

The European Parliament has definitively approved the new EU rules for coordinating the capacity of cross-border railway infrastructure, which aim to increase the reliability of trains, reduce delays at internal borders, and introduce penalties for non-compliance with commitments regarding allocated railway routes.

In short 1. The European Parliament gave its final vote on Tuesday for the rules regarding the coordination of infrastructure capacity in the EU.

2. The new rules aim to optimize the use of the European railway network, improve cross-border coordination, and increase punctuality and reliability.

3. Railway capacity planning will be divided into three stages: strategic planning every five years, annual programming, and adaptation.

4. The European network of infrastructure managers, ENIM, will receive stronger responsibilities for coordinating capacity and cross-border traffic.

5. Infrastructure managers or railway operators who do not comply with their commitments regarding allocated routes could be penalized with fines ranging from 1 to 8 euros/km, with the possibility of doubling depending on the impact.

The European Parliament gave its final vote on Tuesday for the new EU rules aimed at strengthening the coordination of cross-border railway infrastructure capacity. The objective is to avoid delays, make more efficient use of the European railway network, and promote the modal shift towards rail transport.

The new rules had already been confirmed by the governments of the member states in April. They define the conditions for planning and allocating railway infrastructure capacity in the EU and aim to optimize the use of the railway network, improve cross-border coordination, and increase the punctuality and reliability of services.

The rules establish that railway infrastructure capacity planning will be organized in three periods: strategic planning every five years, annual programming, and adaptation. This structure aims to allow for more predictable capacity management and a better response to changes in network usage.

Infrastructure managers in each member state will remain the main institutions responsible for planning and managing railway infrastructure and traffic, as well as for allocating railway routes. The new rules do not transfer this core responsibility to the European level but increase coordination among national managers.

The Parliament points out that uncoordinated maintenance work and lack of cooperation among different infrastructure managers currently lead to congestion and delays at the internal borders of the EU. To address these issues, the European network of infrastructure managers, ENIM, will receive stronger responsibilities for coordinating capacity and cross-border traffic within a European framework.

ENIM will monitor and compare the performance of railway infrastructure managers to ensure that their performance objectives are compatible with EU objectives, including the goal of modal shift towards rail.

MEPs have also strengthened the role of railway companies in decision-making processes related to capacity. Railway operators and owners of services related to rail transport will be able to contribute more directly to decisions regarding planning and capacity allocation.

They will be able to establish a European railway platform, which will act as an advisory body for ENIM. The measure aims to better integrate the perspective of operators and infrastructure users in decisions regarding network capacity.

The new rules introduce penalties for infrastructure managers or railway operators who do not comply with their commitments regarding allocated railway routes when this has a significant impact on the network. The goal is for railway networks to be used as fully as possible and for avoidable disruptions to be discouraged.

The level of the penalty must be effective, proportional, dissuasive, and non-discriminatory. The text establishes a range between 1 and 8 euros/km, with the possibility that the penalty may be doubled depending on the impact of the change on the network.

MEPs have managed to reduce the number of exceptions that allow for avoiding penalties. These will be limited, among other things, to situations generated by unavoidable and urgent circumstances or to decisions by member states to modify railway capacity rights due to a crisis situation or a serious risk to public order or security.

The rapporteur of the European Parliament, Tilly Metz, Greens, Luxembourg, stated that the new rules will ensure better planning, use, and coordination of railway infrastructure in the EU. She said that they will facilitate cross-border rail traffic and allow for more trains on the network without major investments.

"New rules will ensure better planning, usage and coordination of railway infrastructure in the EU. It will facilitate cross-border train traffic and will allow for more trains on the network, without major investments. We bring good news for the freight sector that currently faces huge challenges," said Tilly Metz.

The new rules will enter into force the day after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU. They will start to apply from the day after their entry into force, while some provisions will become applicable between 2028 and 2031.

The new rules are part of the EU's efforts to improve the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the European single railway area. They aim to address issues that arise especially in cross-border traffic, where uncoordinated planning, maintenance work, and lack of cooperation among managers can affect the punctuality and reliability of services.

Rail transport is important for the EU's objectives regarding sustainable mobility and the modal shift from road transport to rail. More efficient use of existing infrastructure can allow for increased transport capacity without immediate major investments in new networks.

The rules are relevant for both passenger transport and freight transport. The Parliament particularly emphasizes the possible effect on the freight sector, which faces significant difficulties and for which better coordination of capacity can reduce bottlenecks and delays on cross-border routes.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/parlamentul-european-aproba-reguli-noi-pentru-coordonarea-capacitatii-feroviare-transfrontaliere