The “First rail packet” (February 2001) and the “Second
rail packet” (April 2004) introduced a regulation that liberalizes
international freight transport starting in 2006 and national
freight transport in 2007. The Commission, in pursuit of the objective
of improving quality and security in the Community railway network,
has launched the “Third rail packet”, which is now
on the eve of the second reading by the European Parliament, following
the political agreement on its three proposals reached by the
Transport Council on December 5, 2005.
It deals with regulations concerning, respectively, the opening
of the passengers market, the Community train engineers license,
and the regulation which governs the rights of passengers in international
rail travel. A fourth proposal, relating to the quality of freight
services, has been rejected by the European Parliament and has
not found a favorable reception in the Council.
The first regulation, according to the commitment undertaken
during the agreement on the second packet, proposes the liberalization
of international passenger services starting in 2010. The European
Parliament, in first reading, proposed to anticipate the date
to 2008 and to include national services in the field of application
starting in 2012; this topic will be discussed in future relations
between the Council and the European Parliament.
The second regulation establishes the conditions and procedures
for the certification of train engineers. This certification is
based on a license, issued by the authority, which is based on
the skill and general knowledge for the practice of the profession;
and on a harmonized complementary certificate, issued by the railway
or by the manager of the infrastructure employing the engineer,
which lists the rolling-stock material and the infrastructure
that the engineer is authorized to operate.
The regulation provides for the field of international travel
on domestic and international lines as supplied by a rail business
in possession of a license. The field of coverage is, however,
limited to international travel on international lines as far
as the provisions relating to delays and to quality standards
are concerned, while it is extended even to domestic travel on
international lines for assistance to persons with reduced mobility.
In the matter of delays, compensations of 25% of the ticket for
delays between 60 and 119 minutes, and of 50% for delays of over
120 minutes are foreseen. There are also provisions directed to
ensure assistance to persons with reduced mobility by a series
of provisions to rail businesses, infrastructure managers and
station-masters.
