ERFA welcomes the judgement of the European Court of Justice and the decision of the Dutch Regulatory Body (ACM) as two important steps forward towards a competitive rail market in Europe.

ERFA welcomes the European Commission’s Mobility Package as an important opportunity to foster a more competitive, cleaner and safer transport system. It is an important step forward in creating the right price signals and conditions for customers to choose the most sustainable modes of transport.

The EU is proposing new rules to create a more customer-orientated rail network, taking important steps forward to improve the reliability and quality of rail services. The changes aim at minimising disruptions to rail services when infrastructure works are being carried out and at creating a more dynamic and flexible timetable process for reserving capacity.

ERFA strongly welcomes the French Regulatory Body's negative opinion on the new investment and performance contract between the French Government and the Infrastructure manager (SNCF Réseau). EU rules provide an excellent framework for Member States to ensure strategic rail investments and a more customer-orientated infrastructure manager. Rail Regulatory Bodies have a key role in implementing this framework.

ERFA’s Annual event, held on March 7th was a great success with over 100 delegates and was supported by representatives from both DG Move and DG Competition at the European Commission and the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. The event was dedicated to the actions needed to deliver further liberalisation following the finalisation of the the 4th Rail Package in December 2016.

ERFA, representing new entrants in the rail market, regrets that the adoption of the political pillar of the 4th Railway Package postpones the urgent and much-needed reforms of the rail sector, endangering the attractiveness of rail for passengers and customers.  We will also continue to strongly raise our voice against unlawful state aid and abuse of dominant position in the rail sector, bridging the existing gaps in the legislation in order to improve rail's performance. 

ERFA, representing new entrants from the freight and passenger sector, very much welcomes the Commission's decision to crackdown anti-competitive practises and abuse of dominant position in the Czech rail market. It sends a strong signal that the rail sector should urgently stop thinking as a monopoly service provider!  

ERFA and 29 European transport associations, representing infrastructure managers, operators, local authorities, users and equipment suppliers in the maritime, inland waterways, railways, road, cycling, aviation and intermodal sectors, call on the EU Parliament and the Council to approve the Commission proposal for the review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. The transport sector warns that the increase of EUR 1.4 billion for the CEF budget cannot be considered sufficient to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T).

ERFA, representing new entrants from the freight and passenger sector, believes that free InterRail pass for young Europeans is an essential project to encourage youth’s mobility, contributing to create a common European identity. It is essential to allow all operators to join the scheme on a fair and equitable basis without delay and not to shut out new entrants from the free InterRail pass project, as they represent a growing part of the rail market and bring benefits for the whole rail sector.

In a joint letter with European transport associations, ERFA, representing rail new entrants, calls for an ambitious strategy to tackle rising Green House Gas emissions from the transport sector. Major opportunities to decarbonise transport must be grasped within all modes, but also with a focus on shifting to cleaner modes. A modal shift to rail in particular for medium and long distance passenger and freight transport can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector.

The Transport sector is mobilised to urge European institutions to dedicate more EU funds to transport in order to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T). More EU Budget for Transport is the Best Investment Plan for Europe.

The Council and the European Parliament agreed on a final version of the 4th Railway Package. The result is far removed from the European Commission?s initial ambition for reforming rail. The real winners from yesterday?s agreement are the other more polluting modes of transport, led notably by the road sector, who continue to make market gains where rail refuses to reform.